Capillary Refill Time (CRT)

This podcast explores the use of peripheral perfusion assessment, specifically capillary refill time (CRT), as a tool to guide treatment in septic shock. Dr. Eduardo Kattan, a critical care and anesthesia physician and co-principal investigator of the ANDROMEDA-SHOCK 2 clinical trial, discusses the basics of pathophysiology in septic shock, including microcirculatory derangements and heterogeneity of flow. He details various tools for assessing peripheral perfusion, such as the Motley score and technological methods, emphasizing the prognostic value of the Motley score. Kattan explains the proper technique for measuring CRT, its interpretation, and the pathophysiological determinants, highlighting the simplicity and accessibility of CRT as a bedside assessment tool. The ANDROMEDA-SHOCK trials are discussed, focusing on how CRT can be used to personalize hemodynamic treatment and improve patient outcomes.