Skip to main content

Neurosonology in ICU: Transcranial Color-Coded Duplex Sonography (TCCS) Protocol

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Neurosonology in Critical Care

Abstract

In 1982, Aaslid was the pioneer in evaluating intracerebral arteries with TCD through an intact skull. This allowed a blind measure of cerebral blood flow velocities of the basal cerebral arteries and an indirect evaluation of the perfusion of the brain.

Technical improvements by using transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCS) with low-frequency probes (2 MHz) have made possible the direct visualization of brain parenchyma and cerebral vessels. Direct visualization of the arteries allows for the correction of the insonation angle and a more accurate measurement of cerebral flow velocities. The orientation of blood flow in the vessels and the visual estimation of the blood flow velocities are possible due to color-coded Doppler.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Arnolds BJ, Von Reutern GM. Transcranial Doppler sonography examination technique and normal reference values. Ultrasound Med Biol. 1986;12:115–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Aaslid R, Markwalder TM, Nornes H. Noninvasive transcranial Doppler ultrasound recording of fow velocity in basal cerebral arteries. J Neurosurg. 1982;57:769–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Sloan MA, Alexandrov AV, Tegeler CH, Spence MP, Caplan LR, Feldmann E, et al. Assessment: transcranial Doppler ultrasnongraphy: report of the therapeutics and technology assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2004;62:1468–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bogdahn U, Becker G, Winkler J, Greiner K, Perez J, Meurers B. Transcranial colour-coded sonography in adults. Stroke. 1990;21(12):1680–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Olatunji RB, et al. Role of Transcraneal colour-coded Duplex sonography in stroke management-review article. West Afr J Ultrasound. 2015;16(1):33–42.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Williams, Warwick. Gray’s Anatomy, vol. I; 1986. p. 755–762;813–827).Salvat.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hartkamp MJ, et al. Circle of Willis collateral flow investigated by magnetic resonance angiography. Stroke. 1999;30:2671–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhu G, Yuan Q, Yang J, Hock YJ. Experimental study of hemodynamics in the circle of Willis. Biomed Eng. 2015;14(Suppl 1):S10.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hoksbergen AWJ, Legemate DA, Ubbink DT, Jacobs MJHM. Collateral variants in circle of Willis in atherosclerotic population assessed by means of transcranial color-coded duplex sonography. Stroke. 2000;31:1656–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kern R, Perren F, Kreisel S, et al. Multiplanar transcranial ultrasound imaging: standards, landmarks and correlation with magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2005;31:311–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Walter U. Transcranial sonography of the cerebral parenchyma:update on clinically relevant applications. Pers Med. 2012;1:334–43.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Oliveira R, de Oliveira LM, Silva Paiva W, de Sá Malbouisson LM, Teixeira MJ, Bor-Seng-Shu E. Comparison between brain computed tomography scan and transcranial sonography to evaluate third ventricle width, Peri-mesencephalic cistern, and sylvian fissure in traumatic brain-injured patients. Front Neurol. 2017;8:44.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Seidel G, Gerriets T, Kaps M, Missler U. Dislocation of the third ventricle due to space-occupying stroke evaluated by transcranial duplex sonography. J Neuroimaging. 1996;6(4):227–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Caricato A, Mignani V, Bocci MG, Pennisi MA, Sandroni C, Tersali A, et al. Usefulness of transcranial echography in patients with decompressive craniectomy: a comparison with computed tomography scan. Crit Care Med. 2012;40(6):1745–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Zipper SG, Stolz E. Clinical application of transcranial color-coded dúplex sonography – a review. Eur J Neurol. 2002;9:1–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. AIUM practice guideline for the performance of a transcranial Doppler ultrasound examination for adults and children. American College of Radiology (ACR); Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR); Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU). J Ultrasound Med. 2012;31(9):1489–500.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Liu D, Kahn M. Measurement and relationship of subarachnoid pressure of the optic nerve to intracranial pressures in fresh cadavers. Am J Ophthalmol. 1993;116(5):548–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Hayreh SS. Pathogenesis of oedema of the optic disc. Doc Ophthalmol. 1968;24(2):289–411.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Newman WD, Hollman AS, Dutton GN, Carachi R. Measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter by ultrasound: a means of detecting acute raised intracranial pressure in hydrocephalus. Br J Ophthalmol. 2002;86(10):1109–13.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Helmke K, Burdelski M, Hansen HC. Detection and monitoring of intracranial pressure dysregulation in liver failure by ultrasound. Transplantation. 2000;70(2):392–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Geeraerts T, Launey Y, Martin L, Pottecher J, Vigué B, Duranteau J, et al. Ultrasonography of the optic nerve sheath may be useful for detecting raised intracranial pressure after severe brain injury. Intensive Care Med. 2007;33(10):1704–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Bartels E. Transcranial color-coded duplex ultrasonography in routine cerebrovascular diagnostics. Pers Med. 2012;1:325–30.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Bartels E, Fuchs H-H, Flugel KA. Color Doppler imaging of basal cerebral arteries. Examination technique and normal reference values. Angiology. 1995;10:844–77.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Geeraerts T, Thome W, Tanaka S, Leblanc PE, Duranteau J, Vigué B. An alternative ultrasonographic approach to assess basilar artery flow. Neurosurgery. 2011;68(2 Suppl Operative):276–81.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kim MJ, et al. Technical essentials of hepatic Doppler sonography. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 2009;38:53–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Giller CA. Is angle correction correct? J Neuroimaging. 1994;4:51–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Krejza J, Mariak Z, Babikian VL. Importance of angle correction in the measurement of blood flow velocity with transcranial Doppler sonography. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2001;22(9):1743–7.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Bartels E. Color – coded Duplex ultrasonography of the cerebral vessels: atlas and manual. Stuttgart: Schattauer; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Nedelmann M, Stolz E, Gerriets T, et al. Consensus recommendations for transcranial color-coded dúplex sonography for the assessment of intracranial arteries in clinical trials in acute stroke. Stroke. 2009;40:3238–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Stolz E. Ultrasound examination techniques of extra – and intracranial veins. Pers Med. 2012;1:366–70.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Bartels E. The axial imaging plane-the main domain of the transcranial color-coded duplex ultrasonography? Eur J Ultrasound. 2002;16:47–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Becker G, Lindner A, Bogdahn U. Imaging of the vertebro-basilar system by transcranial colour-coded real-time sonography. J Ultrasound Med. 1993;12:395–401.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Stolz E, Nückel M, Mendes I, Gerriets T, Kaps M. Vertebrobasilar transcranial colour-coded duplex ultrasonography: improvement with echo enhancement. Am J Neuroradiol. 2002;23:1051–4.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Becker G, Lindner A, Bogdahn U. Imaging of the vertebrobasilar system by transcranial colour-coded real-time sonography. J Ultrasound Med. 1993;12:395–401.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Schöning M, Walter J. Evaluation of the Vertebrobasilar-posterior system by transcranial color duplex sonography in adults. Stroke. 1992;23:1280–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Geeraerts T, Thome W, Tanaka S, Leblanc PE, Duranteau J, Vigué B. An alternative ultrasonographic approach to assess basilar artery flow. Neurosurgery. 2011;68(2 Suppl Operative):276–81.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Alexandrov AV, Sloan MA, Wong LK, Douville C, Razumovsky AY, Koroshetz WJ, et al. American Society of Neuroimaging Practice Guidelines Committee Practice standards for transcranial Doppler ultrasound: part I—test performance. J Neuroimaging. 2007;17(1):11–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Csiba L, Baracchini C. Manual of neurosonology. Chapter 2A. Cambridge; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Christopher H. Optic nerve sheath diameter ultrasound and the diagnosis of increased intracranial pressure. Crit Care Nurs Clin N Am. 2016;28:95–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Ertl M, Barinka F, Torka E, et al. Ocular color-coded sonography – a promising tool for neurologists and intensive cara physicians. Ultraschall Med. 2014;35:422–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Bäuerle J. Nedelmann M.B-mode sonography of the optic nerve in neurological disorders with altered intracranial pressure. Pers Med. 2012;1:404–7.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Abadal JM, Llompart-Pou JA, Homar J, Pérez-Bárcena J, Ibáñez J. Applications of transcranial color-coded duplex sonography in monitoring neurocritical patients. Med Intensiva. 2007;31(9):510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Kavi T, Esch M, Rinsky B, Rosengart A, Lahiri S. Transcranial Doppler changes in patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2016;25(12):2882–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Pierrakos C, Antoine A, Velissaris D, Michaux I, Bulpa P, Evrard P, et al. Transcranial Doppler assessment of cerebral per- fusion in critically ill septic patients: a pilot study. Ann Intensive Care. 2013;3:28.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Joshi B, Ono M, Brown C, Brady K, Easley RB, Yenokyan G, et al. Predicting the limits of cerebral autoregulation during car- diopulmonary bypass. Anesth Analg. 2012;114(3):503–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Rasulo FA, De Peri E, Lavinio A. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in intensive care. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2008;25(S42):167–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Rasulo FA, Bertuetti R, Robba C, Lusenti F, Cantoni A, Bernini M, et al. The accuracy of transcranial Doppler in excluding intracranial hypertension following acute brain injury: a multicenter prospective pilot study. Crit Care. 2017;21(1):44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Moppett IK. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in anaesthesia and intensive care. Br J Anaesth. 2004;93(5):710–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Motuel J, Biette I, Srairi M, Mrozek S, Kurrek MM, Chaynes P, et al. Assessment of brain midline shift using sonography in neurosurgical ICU patients. Crit Care. 2014;18(6):676.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Naqvi J, Yap KH, Ahmad G, Ghosh J. Transcranial Doppler ultra- sound: a review of the physical principles and major applications in critical care. Int J Vasc Med. 2013;2013:629378.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  51. Saqqur M, Zygun D, Demchuk A. Role of transcranial Doppler in neurocritical care. Crit Care Med. 2007;35(5):S216–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Blanco P, Abdo‐Cuza A. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound in the ICU: it is not all sunshine and rainbows. Crit Ultrasound J. 2018;10:2.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  53. Schöning M, Buchholz R, Walter J. Comparative study of transcranial color duplex sonography and transcranial Doppler sonography in adults. J Neurosurg. 1993;78:776–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Rigamonti A, Ackery A, Baker AJ. Transcranial Doppler monitoring in subarachnoid hemorrhage: a critical tool in critical care. Can J Anaesth. 2008;55:112–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Schöning M, Walter J. Evaluation of the vertebrobasilar-posterior system by transcranial color duplex sonography in adults. Stroke. 1992;23:1280–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. D’Andrea A. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography: from methodology to major clinical applications. World J Cardiol. 2016;8(7):383–400.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  57. Schöning M, Niemann G, Hartig B. Transcranial color duplex sonography of basal cerebral arteries: reference data of flow velocities from childhood to adulthood. Neuropediatrics. 1996;27:249–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Blanco P, Blaivas M. Applications of transcranial color-coded sonography in the emergency department. J Ultrasound Med. 2017;36:1251–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Aaslid R, Markwalder TM, Nornes H. Noninvasive transcranial Doppler ultrasound recording of flow velocity in basal cerebral arteries. Neurosurgery. 1982;57:769–74.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Babikian VL, Wechsler LR, Toole JF. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. 2nd ed. Butterworth Heinemannn; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Grolimund P, Seiler RW. Age dependence of the flow velocity in the basal cerebral arteries:a transcranial Doppler ultrasound study. Ultrasound Med Biol. 1988;14:191–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Bartels E, Flügel KA. Quantitative measurements of blood flow velocity in basal cerebral arteries with transcranial color Doppler imaging. J Neuroimag. 1994;4:77–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Wu TY, Sharma G, Strbian D, et al. Natural history of perihematomal edema and impact on outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage. Stroke. 2017;48(4):873–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Kiphuth IC, Huttner HB, Struffert T, et al. Sonographic moni- toring of ventricle enlargement in posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Neurology. 2011;76:858–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Llompart Pou JA, Abadal Centellas JM, Palmer Sans M, et al. Moni- toring midline shift by transcranial color-coded sonography in traumatic brain injury. A comparison with cranial computerized tomography. Intensive Care Med. 2004;30:1672–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Tang SC, Huang SJ, Jeng JS, et al. Third ventricule evidence shift due to spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage evaluated by transcranial color-coded sonography. J Ultrasound Med. 2006;25:203–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. White H, Venkatesh B. Applications of transcranial Doppler in the ICU: a review. Intensive Care Med. 2006;32(7):981–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Lau VI, Arntfield RT. Point-of-care transcranial Doppler by intensivists. Crit Ultrasound J. 2017;9:21.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  69. Sentenac P, et al. The frontal bone window for transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in critically ill patients: validation of a new approach in the ICU. Neurocrit Care. 2020;33(1):115–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Yoshimura S. Frontal bone window improves the ability of transcranial color-coded sonography to visualize the anterior cerebral artery of Asian patients with stroke. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2009;30:1268–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Stolz E, Kaps M, Kern A, Dorndorf W. Frontal bone windows for transcranial color-coded duplex sonography. Stroke. 1999;30:814–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Lau VI, Jaidka A, Wiskar K, Packer N, Tang JE, Koenig S, et al. Better with ultrasound: transcranial Doppler. Chest. 2020;157(1):142–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Camilo N. Rodríguez .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Algorithm

Algorithm

figure a

ABCD Airway-breathing-circulation-disability, GCS Glasgow coma scale, FVs Peak systolic velocity, FVm Mean velocity, MCA Middle cerebral artery, ACA Anterior Cerebral Artery, PCA Posterior Cerebral Artery, BA Basilar Artery, VA Vertebral Artery, OA Ophthalmic artery, ONSD optic nerve sheath diameter, CRA Central retinal artery, ICPn Non-invasive intracranial pressure, CBFV Cerebral blood flow velocity, LV Lateral ventricle, PICA Postero-inferior cerebellar artery, TI Thermal index, MI Mechanical index, Mx Mean flow index, Sx systolic flow index, PRx Pressure reactivity index.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Rodríguez, C.N., Pugin, D. (2022). Neurosonology in ICU: Transcranial Color-Coded Duplex Sonography (TCCS) Protocol. In: Rodríguez, C.N., et al. Neurosonology in Critical Care . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81419-9_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81419-9_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-81418-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-81419-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics