In:
Critical Ultrasound Journal, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 5, No. 1 ( 2013-12)
Abstract:
Current recommendations of stroke treatment favour a moderately elevated blood pressure in the acute phase, based on the concept of an improved cerebral perfusion. Here, cerebral blood flow was assessed in a case series of patients with acute hemodynamic stroke by means of transcranial colour-coded sonography (TCCS) to study the effects of pharmacologically induced hypertension. Findings We investigated six patients with acute hemodynamic stroke and blood pressure-dependent clinical fluctuation of neurological symptoms. TCCS was performed during the initiation phase of catecholamine-induced controlled hypertension. A blood pressure-dependent increase of flow velocity in the ipsilesional middle and the posterior cerebral artery was found in all patients (mean increase 0.80% and 0.65% per mmHg, respectively). Conclusions Catecholamine-induced hypertension in severe hemodynamic stroke leads to an ultrasound-detectable rise of cerebral blood flow. This finding gives ‘proof-of-principle’ evidence, supporting active blood pressure management in this selected group of stroke patients. Outcome-related questions of target blood pressure, treatment duration or applicability to other forms of stroke, however, remain to be studied. In this, transcranial ultrasound may be a valuable tool for patient selection and subsequent bedside monitoring.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2036-7902
DOI:
10.1186/2036-7902-5-4
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2013
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2673587-8
Permalink
