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Updated: Mar 1, 2026
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A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
Published on: February 7, 2015
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Clinical assessment of peripheral circulation
1Department of Intensive Care, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Current Opinion in Critical Care
|April 2, 2015
Summary
Noninvasive assessment of peripheral circulation, including capillary refill time and skin mottling, is reliable for critically ill patients. These methods aid in predicting outcomes and guiding resuscitation strategies for better patient survival.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Hemodynamics
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Peripheral circulation monitoring offers a noninvasive alternative to traditional invasive hemodynamic monitoring in intensive care units.
- Physical examination of peripheral circulation is convenient, accessible, and prognostic for patients with circulatory shock.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent literature on the clinical applications of peripheral perfusion assessment in patient management.
- To highlight key findings regarding the use of peripheral circulation assessment in critically ill patients.
Main Methods:
- Clinical assessment involves physical examination, including skin inspection for pallor or mottling, and measurement of capillary refill time (CRT) at the finger or knee.
- Studies have evaluated CRT in adults, considering factors like normal ranges, body site, skin temperature, and inter-examiner reliability.
Main Results:
- Clinical assessment methods for peripheral circulation are easily applicable and have been used to predict unfavorable outcomes in critically ill adults.
- Ongoing research focuses on the effects of interventions on peripheral circulation parameters during shock resuscitation.
Conclusions:
- Clinical assessment of peripheral circulation, particularly CRT, skin temperature, and mottling score, is feasible and reproducible.
- Therapeutic strategies targeting normalization of peripheral perfusion parameters are being developed to improve survival in critically ill patients.
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