[Ultrasound in acute ischemic stroke].
BACKGROUND
Ultrasound tests are used in the cerebrovascular evaluation of stroke patients. However, the use of Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and carotid duplex ultrasound (CD) within the first hours after stroke onset in the Emergency Service is not a common practice.


RESULTS
TCD and CD can be used as portable tests, thus allowing for bedside use in the Emergency Service. Both tests broaden the abilities of stroke neurologists to rapidly evaluate stroke patients, determine likely mechanism of stroke, and decide on reperfusion and secondary prevention strategies. Furthermore, the ultrasound tests are particularly useful for grading the severity of the arterial patency and enhancing recanalization after tPA administration.


CONCLUSIONS
TCD and CD are excellent diagnostic tools that might be used in all acute stroke patients for immediate evaluation of arterial patency. They make it possible to select treatment and enhance reperfusion after tPA. Carotid and transcranial ultrasound are an essential part of vascular neurology training and practice.
Martínez-Sánchez
P
P
Unidad de Ictus, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid. patrindalo@hotmail.com
Tsivgoulis
G
G
Lao
A
A
Sharma
V
V
Alexandrov
A V
AV
D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015424:Reperfusion; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents