Vascular occlusion tests (VOT) have been utilized alongside near infrared spectroscopy as a means of dynamically investigating microcirculatory function (1), with correlation demonstrated between derangement in muscle tissue oxygenation and mortality (2). Human skin has an exquisite microcirculatory blood supply which can be visualized by means of infrared thermography. Thermography may therefore be a potentially useful non-contact, real-time monitor of microcirculatory function. ; This study is supported by the MARS consortium, a public-private partnership. ; Peer-reviewed ; Publisher Version ; ESICM LIVES 2016: part one : Milan, Italy.