Infrared Thermography Imaging for Assessment of Peripheral Perfusion in Patients with Septic Shock

Skin temperature changes can be used to assess peripheral perfusion in circulatory shock
patients. However, research has been limited to point measurements from acral parts of the body.
Infrared thermography allows non-invasive evaluation of temperature distribution over a larger
surface. Our study aimed to map thermographic patterns in the knee and upper thigh of 81 septic
shock patients within 24 h of admission and determine the relationship between skin temperature
patterns, mottling, and 28-day mortality. We extracted skin temperature measurements from zones
corresponding to mottling scores and used a linear mixed model to analyze the distribution of skin
temperature in patients with different mottling scores. Our results showed that the distribution
of skin temperature in the anterior thigh and knee is physiologically heterogeneous and has no
significant association with mottling or survival at 28 days. However, overall skin temperature
of the anterior thigh and knee is significantly lower in non-survivors when modified by mottling
score. No differences were found in skin temperature between the survivor and non-survivor groups.
Our study shows the potential usefulness of infrared thermography in evaluating skin temperature
patterns in resuscitated septic shock patients. Overall skin temperature of the anterior thigh and knee
may be an important indicator of survival status when modified by mottling score.