Global trend and future landscape of intestinal microcirculation research from 2000 to 2021: A scientometric study

BACKGROUND: The intestinal microcirculation functions in food absorption and metabolic substance exchanges. Accumulating evidence indicates that intestinal microcirculatory dysfunction is a significant source of multiple gastrointestinal diseases. To date, there has not been a scientometric analysis of intestinal microcirculatory research. AIM: To investigate the current status, development trends, and frontiers of intestinal microcirculatory research based on bibliometric analysis. METHODS: VOSviewer and CiteSpace 6.1.R2 were used to identify the overall characteristics and knowledge map of intestinal microcirculatory research based on the core literature published from 2000 to 2021 in the Web of Science database. The characteristics of each article, country of origin, institution, journal, cocitations, and other information were analyzed and visualized. RESULTS: There were 1364 publications enrolled in the bibliometric analysis, exhibiting an upward trend from 2000 to 2021 with increased participation worldwide. The United States and Dalhousie University took the lead among countries and institutions, respectively. Shock was the most prolific journal, and Nature Reviews Microbiology Clinical had the most citations. The topical hotspots and frontiers in intestinal microcirculatory research were centered on the pathological processes of functional impairment of intestinal microvessels, diverse intestinal illnesses, and clinical treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights insights into trends of the published research on the intestinal microcirculation and offers serviceable guidance to researchers by summarizing the prolific areas in intestinal disease research to date.