Transcranial Doppler and brain death

Czech version

Authors: M. Matias
Authors‘ workplace: Klinika anesteziologie, resuscitace a intenzivní medicíny 1. LF UK, Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice, Praha
Published in: Anest. intenziv. Med., 27, 2016, č. 1, s. 32-35
Category: Postgraduate education - ECHO didactics

Overview

Transcranial ultrasonography (transcranial doppler, TCD) is a generally underused ultrasound application despite its relative simplicity, low inter-observer variability and a steep learning curve.

A typical flow pattern on TCD is an accepted method for confirmation of irreversible brain death prior to organ donation according to the current Czech law. However, TCD in this indication has to be performed by a competent specialist in radiology, neurology, neurosurgery or paediatric neurology with minimum 3 years of proven experience with TCD.

Despite this specific competency problem of brain death confirmation, TCD remains a valuable method for estimation of progression of intracranial hypertension to brain death and helps with the timely application of other confirming methods for the routine ICU ultrasound user.

Keywords:
transcranial ultrasound – Doppler – brain death – intensive care

Sources

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Article was published in

Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine

2016 Issue 1