The transcranial Doppler appearance of acute carotid artery occlusion.
Transcranial Doppler ultrasound is a noninvasive technique of cerebral blood velocity measurement that is being increasingly used to detect untoward hemodynamic changes. In this report, we describe striking transcranial Doppler ultrasound changes occurring in 2 patients after cervical carotid artery occlusion that led to cerebral infarction. These changes consist of the sudden appearance of a Doppler signal of extremely low pulsatility and moderately high velocity in the middle cerebral artery distribution. In 1 patient, this signal was the first sign of carotid occlusion. We suggest that these transcranial Doppler ultrasound changes can provide an early warning of carotid artery compromise.
Giller
C A
CA
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-8855.
Mathews
D
D
Purdy
P
P
Kopitnik
T A
TA
Batjer
H H
HH
Samson
D S
DS
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D002426:Cavernous Sinus; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D005352:Fibromuscular Dysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography