Transcranial Doppler Sonography for Detecting Stenosis or Occlusion of Intracranial Arteries in People with Acute Ischemic Stroke in Neurocritical Care Unit

Abstract

A Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is an inexpensive noninvasive ultrasonography technique that helps provide a rapid real time measure of blood flow from the basal intracerebral vessels, which may be used for the diagnosis and follow-up of cerebrovascular disease. By placing the ultrasound probe on the scalp; it utilizes low frequency soundwaves to record cerebral blood flow velocity, and its change in multiple conditions. Technology offers several diagnostic tests available in the evaluation and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). Transcranial ultrasonography may represent a valuable tool for patients with CVD in neurocritical care unit. However due to geographic, financial or patient tolerance of procedures, physicians may be limited to the tools they can utilize.