Capillary refill

A person demonstrates how to assess capillary refill time (CRT) on a dummy[1]
Capillary refill test on index finger pulp.[2]

Capillary refill time (CRT) is defined as the time taken for color to return to an external capillary bed after pressure is applied to cause blanching.[3] It can be measured by holding a hand higher than heart-level and pressing the soft pad of a finger or fingernail until it turns white, then taking note of the time needed for the color to return once pressure is released.[4] In humans, CRT of more than three seconds indicates decreased peripheral perfusion and may indicate cardiovascular or respiratory dysfunction.[5] The most reliable and applicable site for CRT testing is the finger pulp (not at the fingernail), and the cut-off value for the normal CRT should be 3 seconds, not 2 seconds.[2]

  1. ^ Doyle, Glynda Rees; McCutcheon, Jodie Anita (2015-11-23). "2.7 Focused Assessments". Clinical Procedures for Safer Patient Care.
  2. ^ a b Monteerarat, Yuwarat; Limthongthang, Roongsak; Laohaprasitiporn, Panai; Vathana, Torpon (April 2022). "Reliability of capillary refill time for evaluation of tissue perfusion in simulated vascular occluded limbs". European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery. 48 (2): 1231–1237. doi:10.1007/s00068-020-01594-9. ISSN 1863-9933. PMID 33475776. S2CID 231665460.
  3. ^ King, D; Morton, R; Bevan, C (Nov 13, 2013). "How to use capillary refill time". Archives of Disease in Childhood: Education and Practice Edition. 99 (3): 111–116. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2013-305198. PMID 24227793. S2CID 12252412.
  4. ^ "Capillary nail refill test". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-12-21.
  5. ^ Doyle, Glynda Rees; McCutcheon, Jodie Anita (2015-11-23). "Appendix 1: Glossary". Clinical Procedures for Safer Patient Care.