“…The factors responsible for an increase in microvascular fluid filtration include crystalloid hemodilution with a decrease in plasma oncotic pressure, 3 an increase in the central venous pressure (CVP), with elevation of the capillary hydrostatic pressure (Pc), 4 the presence of a generalized inflammatory reaction related to contact between the blood and foreign surfaces of the CPB circuit, 5,6 hypothermic and tepid conditions during CPB, 1,2 the CPB perfusion flow rate, 7 the use of volatile anesthetics, 8 and, finally, the CPB flow pattern (ie, pulsatile vs nonpulsatile perfusion). 9 In a previous study of the fluid exchange in the lungs, fluid filtration, expressed as the filtration coefficient, K f , was found to be higher during pulsatile than nonpulsatile perfusion.…”