Transcranial Doppler Changes in Patients Treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) has significant implications for neurovascular assessment in patients being treated with venoarterial –extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). However, there have been no studies demonstrating the changes in pulsatility indices (PIs) seen in these patients. Nonpulsatile waveforms are seen during on-pump coronary artery bypass graft, but low or low–normal PIs have never been reported. It i s important to be aware of these changes, as they can be misinterpreted as cerebral vasodilation, vasoconstriction, increased intracranial pressures (ICPs), or cerebral circulatory arrest.
Source: Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research