CAPAPP: SMARTPHONE-BASED CAPILLARY REFILL INDEX ASSESSMENT IN HEALTHY CHILDREN

Abstract

Capillary refill time is the time it takes for blanched skin tissue under pressure to return to its normal state when that pressure is released. The test is commonly performed on the fingertip by clinicians to assess for signs of septic, traumatic, or hypovolemic shock. Current methods of capillary refill time measurement are typically subjective, coarse-grained, and clinician dependent. A more standardized and objective measurement of capillary refill time has been shown to improve the diagnosis of pediatric dehydration but has typically required specialized equipment. We have developed a digital version of the capillary refill test utilizing only a smartphone to increase access to capillary refill assessment. Our aim is to determine the accuracy and precision of this smartphone-based measure in a population of healthy pediatric subjects.