Additional Information Given to a Multimodal Imaging Stroke Protocol by Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound in the Emergency Room: A Prospective Observational Study

Background: Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound can demonstrate dynamic information. We aimed to evaluate whether TCD generates useful additional information in the emergency room after a multimodal stroke imaging protocol and also whether this modified the management of patients with cerebral infarction. Methods: Patients admitted between April 2006 and June 2007 with ischemic stroke of less than 24 h were subjected to a protocol consisting of noncontrast brain CT, computed tomography angiography, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and then TCD within the following 6 h by an observer blinded to the results of imaging studies. Results: Seventy-nine patients were included. The imaging protocol was performed 457 (±346) min after stroke symptoms and TCD after 572 (±376) min. TCD provided additional information in 28 cases (35.4%, 95% CI 25.7–46.4). More that one piece of additional information was obtained in 6 patients. The most frequent additional information was collateral pathways. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that intracranial vessel occlusion was the variable most associated with additional information. In 7 patients (8.8%, 95% CI 4.3–17.1), additional information changed management: in 4 an additional angiography was performed, in 2 patients angiography was suspended and in 1 aggressive neurocritical care was indicated. Patients with NIHSS >10 were significantly more likely to have their initial treatment changed (p = 0.004). Conclusions: TCD can provide additional information to a multimodal acute ischemic stroke imaging protocol in a third of patients. This can result in changes in the management in some of these patients.