The Impact of Intraoperative Change in the Body Temperature on the Perfusion Index

The perfusion index (PI) is defined as the ratio of pulsatile light absorption to continuous light absorption, denoted as AC/DC. Initially used as a quality signal indicator in pulse oximetry, PI has increasingly been recognized for its potential in non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring. Since PI changes with peripheral blood flow, it may reflect peripheral temperature gradients and, consequently, thermoregulatory responses like peripheral vasoconstriction. Studies have reported that the core-to-peripheral temperature difference correlates with peripheral PI. The findings suggest that both peripheral and core temperatures contribute to the threshold for shivering and that PI reflects the vasoconstriction induced by thermoregulatory responses that precede shivering