What does prolonged capillary refill time often indicate?

Prolonged capillary refill time is an important clinical indicator often used to assess tissue perfusion. When capillary refill time is longer than expected (typically more than 2 seconds in a healthy individual), it often suggests that there is inadequate tissue perfusion.

This occurs because a prolonged refill indicates that blood is not reaching the peripheral tissues effectively, which could be due to various underlying issues such as shock, dehydration, or vasoconstriction. Inadequate tissue perfusion can lead to cellular hypoxia and, ultimately, can cause the tissues to become compromised if not addressed.

The normal physiological response in a well-perfused individual is rapid capillary refill, as blood flows efficiently to the capillaries. Prolongation signifies that this process is impaired, highlighting the need for further evaluation and possible intervention to improve blood flow and restore adequate perfusion to peripheral tissues.