American Journal of Neuroradiology 25:1172-1176, August 2004
© 2004 American Society of Neuroradiology
Technical Note
INTERVENTIONAL
Immediate Evaluation of Angioplasty and Stenting Results in Supra-Aortic Arteries by Use of a Doppler-Tipped Guidewire
a From the Montreal Neurological Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Address reprint requests to Donatella Tampieri, MD, Head, Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology Divisions, Montreal Neurological Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, 3801 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4 Canada
Summary: Intra-arterial Doppler sonography may complement arteriography by providing immediate physiological evidence of hemodynamic adequacy and by obviating unnecessary angioplastic dilation. We used a Doppler-tipped guidewire in 16 patients and obtained velocity measurements at the site of stenosis immediately before and after carotid artery stenting (CAS) in 10 patients. Intra-arterial Doppler sonography confirmed hemodynamic improvement immediately after stent placement and correlated well with post-CAS duplex Doppler sonography results. Thus, intra-arterial Doppler sonography can be feasibly incorporated into CAS procedures for hemodynamic evaluation and can provide anatomic information that complements information provided by angiography.