Objective assessment of skin color of patients in shock: Case series

Abstract

Poor facial color, one of the indicators for health care professionals to detect abnormalities, is a subjective evaluation. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the changes in forehead skin color of patients in shock, over time, using a spectrophotometer to display skin color in terms of L* (lightness), a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) values, and to identify the associated factors. Nine patients underwent colorimetry three times. In six of the 16 measurement intervals, facial skin color changed as L* decreased and a* increased (improvement in facial color). In three measurement intervals, L* increased and a* decreased (worsening of facial color). Improvements in complexion were associated with a reduction in the lactate level rather than changes in the mean arterial pressure or the hemoglobin level. The changes in skin color are presumed to be related to pathological changes.