EFFECT OF CONTINUOUS TRANSCRANIAL DOPPLER ON THROMBOLYSIS IN ISCHEMIC STROKE DUE TO ACUTE MIDDLE CEREBRAL ARTERY OCCLUSION

2017 ◽  
pp. 110-115
Author(s):  
Quang Thang Tran ◽  
Dat Anh Nguyen ◽  
Van Chi Nguyen ◽  
Van Thinh Le ◽  
Viet Phuong Dao ◽  
...  

Purpose: Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) activity may be enhanced with ultrasound, 2 MHz transcranial Doppler (TCD). We performed the trial to determine the efficacy of ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis compared to the current standard of care (intravenous rtPA). Subjects and methods: We treated 80 patients who had acute ischemic stroke due to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery with intravenous rtPA within 4.5 hours after the onset of symptoms. The patients were randomly assigned to receive continuous 2-MHz transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (the target group) or placebo (the control group). The primary combined end point was complete recanalization as assessed by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and dramatic clinical recovery at 2 hours. Complete recanalization was defined as thrombolysis in brain ischemia (TIBI) flow grades 4-5. Secondary end points included recovery at 24 hours, a favorable outcome at three months. Results: A total of 80 patients were randomly assigned to receive continuous ultrasonography (40 patients) or placebo (40 patients). Complete recanalization and dramatic clinical recovery within two hours after the administration of a rtPA bolus occurred in 13 patients in the target group (32,5%), as compared with 8 patients in the control group (20%) (P=0.038). At three months, 22 patients in the target group who were eligible for follow-up analysis (55%) and 13 in the control group (32,5%) had favorable outcomes (as indicated by a score of 0 to 1 on the modified Rankin scale) (P=0.012). Intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in five patients in the target group and in four in the control group. Conclusion: In patients with acute ischemic stroke due to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, continuous transcranial Doppler augments rtPA-induced arterial recanalization, with an increased rate of recovery from stroke, as compared with placebo. Continuous 2-MHz transcranial Doppler ultrasonography for 2 hours is safe. Key words: Stroke, transcranial Doppler, tissue plasminogen activator

Neurosurgery ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 1026-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose G. Romano ◽  
Alejandro M. Forteza ◽  
Mauricio Concha ◽  
Sebastian Koch ◽  
Roberto C. Heros ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and characteristics of microembolic signals (MES) in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: Twenty-three patients with aneurysmal SAH were monitored with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography for the presence of MES and vasospasm. Each middle cerebral artery was monitored for 30 minutes three times each week. Patients were excluded if they had traumatic SAH or cardiac or arterial sources of emboli. Monitoring was initiated 6.3 days (1–16 d) after SAH and lasted 6.6 days (1–13 d). Eleven individuals without SAH or other cerebrovascular diseases who were treated in the same unit served as control subjects. Each patient underwent monitoring of both middle cerebral arteries a mean of three times; therefore, 46 vessels were studied (a total of 138 observations). Control subjects underwent assessment of each middle cerebral artery once, for a total of 22 control vessels. RESULTS: MES were detected for 16 of 23 patients (70%) and 44 of 138 patient vessels (32%) monitored, compared with 2 of 11 control subjects (18%) and 2 of 22 control vessels (9%) (P < 0.05). MES were observed for 83% of patients with clinical vasospasm and 54% of those without clinical vasospasm. Ultrasonographic vasospasm was observed for 71 of 138 vessels monitored; MES were observed for 28% of vessels with vasospasm and 36% of those without vasospasm. Aneurysms proximal to the monitored artery were identified in 38 of 138 vessels, of which 34% exhibited MES, which is similar to the frequency for vessels without proximal aneurysms (31%). Coiled, clipped, and unsecured aneurysms exhibited similar frequencies of MES. CONCLUSION: MES were common in SAH, occurring in 70% of cases of SAH and one-third of all vessels monitored. Although MES were more frequent among patients with clinical vasospasm, this difference did not reach statistical significance. We were unable to demonstrate a relationship between ultrasonographic vasospasm and MES, and the presence of a proximal secured or unsecured aneurysm did not alter the chance of detection of MES. Further studies are required to determine the origin and clinical relevance of MES in SAH.


Neurosurgery ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf W. Seiler ◽  
Arto C. Nirkko

Abstract The cerebrovascular response to CO2was evaluated by measuring relative changes in blood flow velocity within the middle cerebral artery by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography during normo-, hypo-, and hypercapnia. In seven patients without subarachnoid hemorrhage (five with unruptured arteriovenous malformations and two with aneurysms), the CO2vasoreactivity was tested on the side of the middle cerebral artery with normal flow velocities opposite the lesion. A baseline CO2reactivity test was obtained in each patient and then repeated under constant intravenous infusion of nimodipine, 2 mg/hr. Nine patients with ruptured aneurysms who were rated at Hunt and Hess Grades 1 or 2 were operated on within 1 to 3 days after the hemorrhage and treated with nimodipine, 2 mg/hr, given intravenously. In these patients. CO2vasoreactivity was tested during the second week after the hemorrhage, when the middle cerebral artery velocity was increased by at least 50% of the initial value or more. Nimodipine was then discontinued and, 48 hours later, when the middle cerebral artery velocity was still in the same range, CO2vasoreactivity was tested again. Two months later, after full recovery from the subarachnoid hemorrhage and normalization of the velocities, a third measurement of CO2reactivity was obtained as a baseline control. No significant effect of nimodipine on CO2vasoreactivity could be demonstrated in any of the test periods. In the second week after a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a significant reduction of the cerebrovascular response to CO2was found (P < 0.005).


2013 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 397-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph J. Griessenauer ◽  
J. Brett Fleming ◽  
Boyd F. Richards ◽  
Luis P. Cava ◽  
Joel K. Curé ◽  
...  

Object Extracranial cerebrovascular injury is believed to be an important cause of neurological injury in patients who have suffered blunt trauma. The authors sought to determine the timing and mechanisms of ischemic stroke in patients who suffered traumatic cerebrovascular injury (TCVI). Methods This is a prospective study of all patients with TCVI who were admitted to a Level I trauma center during a 28-month period. All patients who suffered blunt trauma and had risk factors for TCVI underwent screening CT angiography (CTA) of the head and neck on admission. All patients with either an ischemic stroke or CTA suggesting TCVI underwent confirmatory digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Patients with DSA-confirmed TCVI were treated with 325 mg aspirin daily; all patients were observed during their hospitalization for the occurrence of new ischemic stroke. In addition, a subset of patients with TCVI underwent transcranial Doppler ultrasonography monitoring for microembolic signals. Results A total of 112 patients had CTA findings suggestive of TCVI; 68 cases were confirmed by DSA. Overall, 7 patients had an ischemic stroke in the territory of the affected artery prior to or during admission. Four of the patients had their event prior to diagnosis with CTA and 2 occurred prior to DSA. In 1 patient the ischemic stroke was found to be due to an extracranial atherosclerotic carotid plaque, and this patient was excluded from further analysis. All patients with ischemic stroke had brain CT findings consistent with an embolic mechanism. Two (8.7%) of 23 monitored patients with TCVI had microembolic signals on transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. Conclusions Most ischemic strokes due to TCVI are embolic in nature and occur prior to screening CTA and initiation of treatment with aspirin.


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