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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children
Published on: August 19, 2020
Comparing three methods of assessing peripheral perfusion in critically ill children
1ICU, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Background:
Evaluation of peripheral perfusion is a standard practice in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), which includes the qualitative assessment of foot warmth. The perfusion indicator, derived from the pulse oximetry signal, is available, along with some bedside monitors.
Objectives:
To describe the correlation between RN qualitative assessment of foot warmth, measured foot temperature, and perfusion indicator.
Methods:
Simultaneous measurements of qualitative foot warmth, measured foot temperature, and perfusion indicator value were obtained on 39 critically ill children ages newborn to 18 years, at least every 2 hours for 48 hours, with 859 measurements completed.
Results:
There was a positive correlation between all three parameters (p = < 0.0001); however, there was a large amount of variability within groups.
Conclusion:
Qualitative assessment of foot warmth and peripheral perfusion indicator may be helpful in assessing the perfusion in critically ill pediatric patients, but neither is predictably specific as compared to measured foot temperature.
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