Transcranial doppler in acute stroke management-A "real-time" bed-side guide to reperfusion and collateral flow

Abstract

Introduction: Assessment of cerebral hemodynamics with transcranial Doppler (TCD) can provide real-time, bed-side assessment of important prognostic variables in acute stroke such as the status of collateral flow and vessel recanalization status. In acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, anterior cerebral artery (ACA) flow diversion (FD) is correlated with leptomeningeal collateral flow and may be a clinically useful prognostic indicator. Continuous TCD monitoring of MCA recanalization may also provide useful prognostic information including changes in flow pattern and the occurrence of microembolic signals (MES). We present studies examining associations between ACA FD, MCA recanaliz..