Valenzuela Espinoza ED, et al. - Among patients with septic shock (n=20) and healthy volunteers (n=8), researchers investigated the impacts of a brief period of hyperoxia on microcirculation. Mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance were increased, without any alteration in cardiac output, due to hyperoxia, in septic patients. A decreased heterogeneity flow index was the only significant alteration in sublingual microcirculation. Stability of sublingual microcirculation and skin perfusion was evident in healthy volunteers. As a result of short-term hyperoxia, systemic cardiovascular changes occurred. Findings revealed no association of short-term hyperoxia with noticeable derangement in sublingual microcirculation and skin perfusion. Nevertheless, different results might be seen with longer exposures to hyperoxia.