Table 3 Changes in sublingual microcirculation and NIRS-derived parameters from baseline to end-surgery in the two groups of patients receiving balanced anaesthesia or total intravenous anaesthesia

MFI (small vessels) [AU]

2.67 [2.50–2.75]

2.83 [2.37–2.98]

2.75 [2.58–2.90]

2.67 [2.42–2.81]

–

Abnormal MFI^a (n, %)

9, 45%

6, 30%

7, 35%

9, 45%

–

FHI [AU]

0.15 [0.00–0.29]

0.18 [0.02–0.36]

0.23 [0.09–0.28]

0.19 [0.10–0.38]

–

TVD (small) (mm/mm2)

18.4 ± 3.8

21.0 ± 4.7*

19.8 ± 4.0

20.7 ± 4.5

0.216

TVD (medium) (mm/mm2)

1.5 [0.9–2.2]

1.2 [1.1–1.5]

0.8 [0.6–1.1]##

0.5 [0.1–0.8]###

–

PVD (small) (mm/mm2)

16.6 ± 4.2

19.1 ± 5.4*

18.1 ± 4.2

19.2 ± 4.9

0.302

PVD (medium) (mm/mm2)

1.5 [0.9–2.2]

1.2 [1.1–1.5]

0.8 [0.6–1.1]##

0.5 [0.1–0.8]###

–

PPV (small, %)

91 [83–97]

91 [82–97]

96 [83–98]

95 [90–97]

–

StO₂ (%)

83 ± 5

86 ± 7

82 ± 6

85 ± 9

0.975

StO₂ Downslope 1 (%/min)

−8.0 [−10.8, −6.8]

−7.8 [− 10.4, − 6.9]

− 8.8 [− 12.0, − 7.8]

−8.1 [− 11.1, − 5.9]**

–

StO₂ Downslope 2 (%/min)

−8.2 ± 3.3

− 8.0 ± 4.8

−8.2 ± 2.8

− 8.0 ± 3.4

0.962

Delta Downslope (2–1) (%/min)

1.1 [− 0.5, 2.4]

−0.1 [− 1.6, 1.8]

0.9 [− 0.8, 3.9]

−0.7 [− 1.4, 1.0]

–

StO₂ Upslope (%/min)

226 ± 64

206 ± 103

264 ± 84

247 ± 77

0.900

AUC StO₂ (%*min)

14.8 ± 8.1

25.6 ± 14.8*

20.4 ± 6.0

26.1 ± 19.1

0.359

THI [AU]

15.2 ± 2.0

15.3 ± 3.1

14.6 ± 3.3

12.8 ± 3.6#

0.140