Clinical Applications of Ultrasonography in Neurocritically Ill Patients

J Intensive Care Med. 2021 Jun;36(6):627-634. doi: 10.1177/0885066620905796. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Abstract

Ultrasonography is part of the multimodal monitoring of the neurocritical patient. Through transcranial color Doppler ultrasound, carotid-color Doppler ultrasound, and ocular ultrasound it is possible to diagnose and monitor a multitude of pathological conditions, such as cerebrovascular events, vasospasm, Terson syndrome, carotid atheromatosis, and brain death. Furthermore, these techniques enable the monitoring of the intracranial pressure, the cerebral perfusion pressure, and the midline deviation, which allows us to understand the patient's neurocritical pathology at their bedside, in a noninvasive way. Although none of these tools have yet been shown to improve patient prognosis, the dissemination of knowledge and management of neurovascular ultrasonography could significantly improve the comprehensive management of neurocritical patients.

Keywords: Doppler; critical care; neurology; ultrasonography.

MeSH terms

  • Brain Death
  • Carotid Arteries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / diagnostic imaging*
  • Critical Care*
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Pressure
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / methods*