Predictive value of the transcranial Doppler and mean arterial flow velocity for early detection of cerebral vasospasm in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objectives: We aimed to predict cerebral vasospasm in acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and to determine the cut-off values of the mean flow velocity by the use of transcranial Doppler.

Methods: A total of 40 patients with acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage were included in this study and classified into two groups. The first group was 26 patients (65%) with cerebral vasospasm and the second group was 14 patients (35%) without vasospasm. Initial evaluation using the Glasgow Coma Scale and the severity of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage was detected by using both the clinical Hunt and Hess and radiological Fisher grading scales. All patients underwent transcranial Doppler evaluations five times in 10 days measuring the mean flow velocities (MFV) of cerebral arteries.

Results: Patients with cerebral vasospasm were associated with significantly higher mean Glasgow Coma Scale score (p = 0.03), significantly higher mean Hunt and Hess scale grades (p = 0.04), with significantly higher mean diabetes mellitus (p = 0.03), significantly higher mean systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.02 and p = 0.005 respectively) and significantly higher MFVs measured within the first 10 days. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that MFV ≥81 cm/s in the middle cerebral artery is accompanied by an almost five-fold increased risk of vasospasm (OR 4.92, p < 0.01), while MFV ≥63 cm/s in the anterior cerebral artery is accompanied by a three-fold increased risk of vasospasm (OR 3.12, p < 0.01), and MFV ≥42 cm/s in the posterior cerebral artery is accompanied by a two-fold increased risk of vasospasm (OR 2.11, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Transcranial Doppler is a useful tool for early detection, monitoring, and prediction of post subarachnoid vasospasm and valuable for early therapeutic intervention before irreversible ischemic neurological deficits take place.