Transcranial Doppler (TCD): Principles and Clinical Applications

This is a recording of the previously conducted live Course by Dr.Waleed A Khoja

Moderated by Dr.Faisal Al Suwaidan

Composed of two Parts:

Part 1: TCD Principles and Simulator by Dr.Waleed A Khoja

Part 2: TCD Clinical Applications by Dr.Waleed A Khoja

Introduction:

Transcranial Doppler, Your Stethoscope to the Brain.

Simply, Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a non invasive pulse wave ultrasonography of the intracranial blood circulation and it is one of the most rapidly growing sciences in neurosonology over the last decade. The technique is very simple and has a high index of sensitivity and specifity.

TCD is used to assess blood flow velocity in the major basal intracranial arteries on a real time, beat-to-beat basis. Blood flow velocity is calculated and used to make determinations about intracranial hemodynamics. Additional diagnostic criteria, such as flow direction, change or absence of signal, differences in velocity values on left and right sides, waveform shape, vasomotor reactivity, high intensity transient signal detection and others, are also used in interpretation.

TCD technology added a lot of information in understanding disease process affecting the intracranial vessels. It is widely used in assessing and following extra and intracranial vessels in a wide range of diseases, including stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, internal carotid artery stenosis, Moyamoya disease, sickle cell disease, mitochondrial cytopathies, arteriovenous malformations, patent foramen ovale and many others. Also, the technique of color coated transcranial duplex made it possible to visualize the intracranial vessels and brain midline structures with a reliable index of accuracy and opened a wide door for new future research. In a matter of fact, TCD is your stethoscope to the brain.