Microdialysis: principles and techniques

The technique of microdialysis provides the opportunity for continuous monitoring of metabolic changes in the tissue before they are reflected in peripheral blood chemistry or in systemic physiological parameters. The method was developed more than 30 years ago for monitoring chemical events in the animal brain [1],[3] and has become an accepted scientific standard technique. Altogether there have been about 10 000 published studies reporting the use of microdialysis. In the late 1980s, the possibilities for monitoring the human brain were first explored [3], and microdialysis has since then been used for biochemical monitoring of most human tissues. Clinical application of the technique was, however, delayed due to lack of instruments suitable for clinical routine use, including bedside monitoring of relevant biochemical variables.