Description

Transcranial Dopplers (TCD) are used for multiple applications in the neurocritical care unit to diagnose various processes, including vasospasm in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients, signs of increased intracranial pressure in multiple processes that lead to cerebral edema, various pathologies in patients with ischemic stroke (e.g., intracranial stenosis, emboli detection, right-to-left shunt, carotid pathology with reversed ophthalmic artery flow), and evidence of cerebral circulatory arrest. There have been multiple publications to promote the use of this important tool for neurocritical care practitioners [8, 9]. TCDs are being utilized at comprehensive stroke centers as an essential diagnostic service and have been identified as providing valuable diagnostic and prognostic information by a multidisciplinary panel of experts [10]. Despite potential applications, widespread uptake of the utilization and interpretation of TCDs in neurocritical care is lacking. Additionally, many physician training programs lack dedicated educational programming for this. The internal Neurocritical Care Society Ultrasound Section Survey was performed, and participants indicated a desire to learn more about this diagnostic tool.