Review article

Transcranial doppler applications in cerebrovascular disease diagnosis

Ines Strenja-Linić ; Zavod za cerebrovaskularne i ekspanzivne bolesti, Klinika za neurologiju, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka

Abstract

Transcranial doppler (TCD) and transcranial color doppler are non-invasive diagnostic
methods for investigating real time intracranial hemodynamics. TCD provides us with a number
of intracranial and extracranial vascular pathological conditions as well as and insight into their
intracranial hemodynamics in a way that is not possible when using other diagnostic methods.
TCD is a widely available non-invasive method used to diagnose and quantify intracranial
stenosis and can be conducted beside a hospital bed. Recently TCD is more and more
acknowledged in perioperative as well as postoperative carotid stenosis patient follow up,
detection of brain microembolic signals, diagnosis of patent foramen ovale (PFO) or a left-right
shunt and to assess intracranial vasospasm. The use of TCD in intensive care units enables us to
non-invasively monitor intracranial pressure as well as the development of cerebral circulatory
arrest and to consequently confirm brain death. Considering TCD’s excellent temporal resolution
it is an ideal non-invasive technique to be used in cerebral circulatory reserve functional testing,
by using different stimuli – hypo and hypercapnia, hypoxia and increased or reduced system
arterial pressure. By further improvements in this highly sophisticated technology we expect a
wider use of TCD to be implemented in neurological as well as other pathological conditions.

Keywords

brain circulation; cerebral circulatory reserve; intracranial stenosis; transcranial color doppler; transcranial Doppler; vasospasm

Hrčak ID:

103483

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/103483

Publication date:

5.6.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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