Sequential carotid Doppler study in acute stroke and its clinical correlation: A prospective study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Vascular Medicine
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Cerebrovascular hemodynamics are crucial in stroke assessment.
• Resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) via carotid Doppler reflect cranial vasculature status.
• These indices correlate with stroke severity and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare hospital stay and stroke severity using RI and PI of internal carotid arteries.
• To investigate the association between carotid Doppler parameters and stroke outcomes.
• To evaluate the predictive value of RI and PI in acute stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• Included 101 patients (>18 years) within 48 hours of anterior circulation stroke.
• Divided patients into favorable and unfavorable outcome groups based on length of stay (LOS).
• Assessed patients clinically and performed carotid Doppler studies on days 1, 3, and 5, correlating parameters with LOS and stroke severity.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in RI and PI was observed from days 1-3 in the favorable outcome group.
• Patients with unfavorable outcomes showed a significant PI increase from days 1-3 and 1-5.
• The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score significantly decreased in the favorable group from days 1-5.

Conclusions:

• Elevated PI in unfavorable outcome, prolonged LOS patients suggests impaired cerebral autoregulation.
• Carotid Doppler offers a simple bedside method for predicting acute stroke outcomes.
• RI and PI are valuable non-invasive tools for assessing stroke severity and prognosis.