clinical signs such as mental status (consciousness), capillary refill, blood pressure and urine output coupled with pulse oximetry, perfusion index, pleth variability index, targeted bedside echocardiography, electrocardiography (EKG), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and invasive monitoring with blood gas and lactate should be collectively interpreted to assess perfusion. Copyright Satyan Lakshminrusimha.