Who might have a transcranial Doppler ultrasound?
The most common use of transcranial Doppler is to perform daily checks in patients who have had sudden bleeding in the space around the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage) to make sure that the blood vessels in the brain are not constricting (vasospasm).1-3 Vasospasm usually appears 3 to 21 days after subarachnoid hemorrhage and can cause another stroke or death.3 In patients with blocked-vessel (ischemic) stroke, transcranial Doppler ultrasound is most often used to monitor blood flow during and after procedures such as carotid endarterectomy or carotid stenting. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound can detect blood clots and make sure blood is flowing properly throughout the brain during the procedure.2, 4, 5 This type of monitoring helps reduce complications.5 The test is convenient to use during and after procedures to reduce stroke risk because it is safe to use continuously, accurately shows blood flow in real time, and is portable, allowing doctors to monitor blood flow at the patient’s
