Which of the following assessment parameters is a more reliable indicator of perfusion in infants than adults?

Capillary refill is a more reliable indicator of perfusion in infants compared to adults because of the physiological differences in how perfusion is maintained in these populations. In infants, peripheral circulation is often less robust, making capillary refill a valuable assessment tool. Infants tend to have higher metabolic rates and variable vessel tone, which means that changes in capillary refill can reflect their perfusion status more reliably.

In adults, blood pressure and pulse quality might also be significant indicators, but these can be influenced by various factors such as anxiety, hydration status, and underlying health conditions. Therefore, while all parameters can indicate perfusion to some extent, capillary refill is particularly effective in the more variable physiological context of infants, providing crucial information about their circulatory status.

The other options, while useful in assessing perfusion or overall health, do not hold the same level of reliability for infants as capillary refill does. For example, blood pressure can be misleading in infants because sustaining adequate blood pressure is not as quickly indicative of perfusion issues in younger patients. Similarly, measuring level of orientation is less applicable in infants, who may not exhibit predictable responses as older children or adults would.