The fourth mechanism of reperfusion injury is accelerated apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death. Apoptosis is the normal process that occurs at the cell’s end of life. Normally it is activated by some intrinsic or extrinsic pathway and follows a process of cell shrinkage, nuclear collapse, lysis and finally absorption. However ischemic/reperfusion can jump start apoptosis much earlier causing many otherwise young and normal cells to expire before their time. This can lead to significant organ dysfunction.
Perfusion Theory is an educational platform for the Oxygen Pressure Field Theory (OPFT). August Krogh’s theoretical concept of the oxygen pressure field is explained and then applied to clinical applications in perfusion practice.