Which assessment finding may indicate decreased perfusion in a patient?

Decreased perfusion in a patient often manifests with specific skin assessment findings. Cool and mottled skin is indicative of poor blood flow and reduced perfusion. This can occur because diminished circulation leads to inadequate oxygenation and nutrients reaching the tissues, resulting in cooler skin temperatures and a mottled appearance due to the pooling of blood and reduced capillary refill.

Warm and dry skin often suggests adequate perfusion and is typically seen in well-hydrated or normothermic patients. Similarly, flushed and bright skin can suggest increased perfusion, often associated with fever, inflammation, or anxiety; these conditions do not indicate decreased perfusion. Edema in the extremities, while it may point to other circulatory issues such as fluid overload or venous obstruction, does not directly reflect poor overall perfusion to those tissues in the same way as a cool and mottled appearance does.