Effect of transient carotid artery compression during transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in dogs

Changes in blood flow in the arteries of the canine skull base following compression of the ipsilateral carotid artery were evaluated. Forty healthy conscious dogs were evaluated during examination in lateral recumbency. Using the temporal window, the rostral, middle and caudal cerebral arteries were evaluated. The basilar artery was studied through the suboccipital window. Following compression, the pulse Doppler signal was reduced or inverted when interrogating the rostral or middle cerebral artery, and no change was observed when the caudal cerebral artery or basilar artery was evaluated.