Use of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound for Diagnosis of Brain Death in Patients with Severe Cerebral Injury.
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the use of transcranial Doppler (TCD) for diagnosis of brain death in patients with severe cerebral injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study enrolled 42 patients based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients were divided into either the brain death group or the survival group according to prognosis. Blood flow of the brain was examined by TCD and analyzed for spectrum changes. The average blood flow velocity (Vm), pulse index (PI), and diastolic blood flow in reverse (RDF) were recorded and compared. RESULTS The data demonstrated that the average speed of bilateral middle cerebral artery blood flow in the brain death group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). However, the PI of the brain death group increased significantly. Moreover, RDF spectrum and nail-like sharp peak spectrum of the brain death group was higher than in the survival group. CONCLUSIONS Due to its simplicity, high repeatability, and specificity, TCD combined with other methods is highly valuable for diagnosis of brain death in patients with severe brain injury.
Department of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College, Jining, Shandong, China (mainland).
Yuequn
Y
Li
Department of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College, Jining, Shandong, China (mainland).
Shangwei
S
Liu
Department of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College, Jining, Shandong, China (mainland).
Fangfang
F
Xun
Department of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College, Jining, Shandong, China (mainland).
Zhan
Z
Liu
Department of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College, Jining, Shandong, China (mainland).
Xiuying
X
Huang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001926:Brain Death / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / Q000379:methods*