Image-guided transcranial Doppler sonography for monitoring of vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage

- Image-guided and conventional TCD were compared by evaluation of a TCD database.
- Higher completeness of exams and more Doppler sonographic vasospasms with image-guided TCD.
- Image-guidance standardizes serial TCD exams and may improve vasospasm monitoring after SAH.

ObjectivesTranscranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) is a standard method for bedside vasospasm monitoring after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Image guidance has previously been shown to reduce intra- and interobserver variability of this method. The aim of the present study was to compare image-guided and conventional TCD in vasospasm monitoring after SAH.Patients and methods418 TCD exams of 24 consecutive SAH patients registered in a database were evaluated. Of these, 130 image-guided exams were identified which had been performed on the same day as conventional Doppler exams. These matched pairs were taken for statistical analysis. Data were tested statistically using the sign test applied at patient level to aggregated data.ResultsThe rate of complete exams (both M1, A1, P1 segments) was significantly higher in image-guided exams (92% vs. 74%, p < 0.001), and the superiority of image-guided exams was significantly related to smaller sizes of the temporal bone window. There were more exams with Doppler sonographic vasospasm (mean flow velocity > 120 cm/s) in image-guided exams (38% vs. 33%) which, however, did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionImage-guidance leads to a standardization of serial TCD exams, which resulted in significantly more complete exams, most prominent in patients with poor temporal bone windows, and a higher detection rate of Doppler sonographic vasospasms. Image-guided TCD therefore has the capability to improve bedside vasospasm monitoring after SAH.