Which of these statements made by an EMT student indicates that he correctly understands the use of capillary?

Capillary refill time is a simple bedside measurement that is undertaken as part of the ABCDE approach to assessing acutely ill patients. This article outlines the rationale for measurement and provides a step-by-step guide to the procedure

Abstract

Measurement of capillary refill time can help to confirm the presence of circulatory shock when it is used as part of the ABCDE assessment of acutely ill patients. This article outlines the procedure used to measure capillary refill time in clinical practice.

Citation: Jevon P, Gallier H (2020) How to measure capillary refill time in patients who are acutely ill. Nursing Times [online]; 116: 8, 29-30.

Authors: Phil Jevon is academy tutor; Hannah Gallier is academy trainer, emergency department; both at Walsall Teaching Academy, Manor Hospital, Walsall.

• This article has been double-blind peer reviewed
• Scroll down to read the article or download a print-friendly PDF here (if the PDF fails to fully download please try again using a different browser)

Introduction

Capillary refill time (CRT) is a measure of the time it takes for a distal capillary bed, such as those found in the fingers, to regain colour after pressure has been applied to cause blanching. A prolonged CRT may indicate the presence of circulatory shock.

Tissue perfusion is dependent on an adequate blood pressure in the aorta which, in turn, is determined by the product of two factors:

• Cardiac output – the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle in one minute;
• Peripheral resistance.

Cardiac output is determined by the heart rate and stroke volume.

Normal and prolonged CRT

CRT is part of the circulation (C) component of the ABCDE approach, which is used to assess and treat patients who are acutely ill. However, its reliability has been questioned as there is very little research data to confirm validity (Shinozaki et al, 2019; Lewin and Maconochie, 2008).

The normal CRT is <2 seconds; a CRT of >2 seconds suggests poor peripheral perfusion and may be an early sign of shock (Hernández et al, 2020). However, several other factors can cause a prolonged CRT, including:

• Peripheral vascular disease;
• Hypothermia;
• Cold ambient temperature;
• Poor lighting;
• Old age.

Accurate timing of CRT is difficult: Fleming et al (2016) advised using a watch or clock to help measure CRT, but this can be difficult in practice as CRT is measured over a very short period of time. Some nurses count in thousands with each number (1,000, 2,000, 3,000) equating to a second but this approach may not be performed consistently between staff.

It is important to interpret CRT in the context of a comprehensive assessment of circulation, which should include:

• Pulse rate;
• Pulse volume;
• Blood pressure;
• Level of consciousness;
• Skin colour/temperature/texture;
• Urine output;
• Other clinical findings from the ABCDE assessment.

Shock

Shock is defined as life-threatening, generalised form of acute circulatory failure with inadequate oxygen delivery to the cells (Rhodes et al, 2016; Cecconi et al, 2014); this results in impaired basic metabolic functions of cells and organs. Hypoperfusion of the tissues triggers a systemic stress response, including tachycardia and peripheral vasoconstriction; once these physiological compensation mechanisms are overwhelmed, organ dysfunction, organ failure, irreversible organ damage and death may ensue.

Shock classifications are outlined in Box 1, with clinical features given in Box 2.

Box 1. Classifications of shock

• Hypovolaemic shock – loss of circulating volume due to, for example, severe haemorrhage
• Cardiogenic shock – caused by pump failure, usually secondary to an acute myocardial infarction. Other causes include cardiac arrhythmias, such as fast atrial fibrillation and complete heart block
• Distributive shock – there are three types of distributive shock:
  • Neurogenic – causes include damage to the spinal cord or the brain stem
  • Anaphylactic – caused by an allergic reaction to a drug or substance
  • Septic – caused by an infection
• Obstructive shock – caused by a circulatory obstruction, such as pulmonary embolism, tension pneumothorax and cardiac tamponade

Sources: Cecconi at al (2014); Soni and Watson (2011)

Box 2. Shock: clinical features

• Tachypnoea
• Tachycardia
• Hypotension
• Pallor
• Cool peripheries
• Mottled skin
• Peripheral cyanosis
• Delayed capillary refill time
• Oliguria
• Altered level of consciousness and confusion

Sources: Cecconi et al (2014); Jevon et al (2012)

It is important to remember that hypotension is not a prerequisite for diagnosing shock because compensatory mechanisms such as vasoconstriction – which diverts blood from the peripheral circulation to the vital organs – can preserve blood pressure in the short term (Van Genderen et al, 2013). As a consequence, patients in shock may exhibit adverse changes in CRT before a fall in blood pressure is detected.

CRT is a marker of peripheral perfusion and an abnormal CRT in patients with septic shock who have received resuscitation in an intensive care unit has been directly associated with poor outcomes (Lara et al, 2017). CRT can, therefore, be considered a simple monitoring tool that can help inform the triage, treatment and follow-up of patients with sepsis-related acute circulatory dysfunction (Hariri et al, 2019).

Procedure for measuring CRT

This procedure is usually undertaken alongside other systemic observations.

1. Explain the procedure to the patient and obtain informed consent.
2. If required, screen the bed to maintain the patient’s privacy and dignity.
3. Decontaminate your hands according to local policy.
4. Position the patient comfortably and elevate their hand to the level of their heart (or slightly higher) (Fig 1). This will ensure that perfusion of the arteriolar capillaries carrying oxygenated blood, rather than venous stasis, is being assessed.
5. Apply cutaneous pressure to the fingertip for five seconds (Fig 2). The pressure applied should be enough to cause blanching as the blood is dispelled from the tissue.
6. Release the pressure.
7. Time how long it takes for the skin to return to the same colour as the surrounding tissues.
8. Consider any of the factors mentioned earlier in the article that may influence CRT.
9. Decontaminate your hands.
10. Document the CRT measurement in seconds, the site where it was undertaken and any factors that may have influenced the reading. This will help to ensure standardisation and interpretation of repeated measurements.

An alternative site for measuring the CRT is the sternum (Fig 3). This site is frequently used in emergency departments, especially in winter when patients may come from a cold environment, which affects the accuracy of CRT.

Professional responsibilities

This procedure should be undertaken only after approved training, supervised practice and competency assessment, and carried out in accordance with local policies and protocols.

References

Cecconi M et al (2014) Consensus on circulatory shock and hemodynamic monitoring. Task force of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Intensive Care Medicine; 40: 12, 1795-1815.

Fleming S et al (2016) Capillary refill time in sick children: a clinical guide for general practice. British Journal of General Practice; 66: 652, 587-588.

Hariri G et al (2019) Narrative review: clinical assessment of peripheral tissue perfusion in septic shock. Annals of Intensive Care; 9: 37.

Hernández G et al (2020) Capillary refill time status could identify different clinical phenotypes among septic shock patients fulfilling Sepsis-3 criteria: a post hoc analysis of ANDROMEDA-SHOCK trial. Intensive Care Medicine; 46: 4, 816–818.

Jevon P et al (2012) Monitoring the Critically Ill Patient. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.

Lara B et al (2017) Capillary refill time during fluid resuscitation in patients with sepsis-related hyperlactatemia at the emergency department is related to mortality. PLoS One; 12: 11, e0188548.

Lewin J, Maconochie I (2008) Capillary refill time in adults. Emergency Medicine Journal; 25: 6, 325-326.

Rhodes A et al (2016) Surviving Sepsis Campaign: international guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock: 2016. Critical Care Medicine; 45: 3, 486-552.

Shinozaki K et al (2019) Comparison of point-of-care peripheral perfusion assessment using pulse oximetry sensor with manual capillary refill time: clinical pilot study in the emergency department. Journal of Intensive Care; 7: 52.

Soni N, Watson D (2011) Cardiovascular support. In: Nimmo GR, Singer M (eds) ABC of Intensive Care. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Van Genderen ME et al (2013) Peripheral perfusion index as an early predictor for central hypovolemia in awake healthy volunteers. Anesthesia and Analgesia; 116: 2, 351-356.

Which of these statements made by an EMT indicates an accurate understanding of checking a patient's skin temperature?

When assessing a patient's blood pressure What does the top number indicate to the EMT?

When obtaining a blood pressure the EMT listens for a pulse over what blood vessel?

For which one of the following conditions would the EMT most likely get an inaccurate pulse oximeter reading despite proper application of the sensor?