Effect of ultrasound on thrombolysis of middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Eggers, Jürgen; Koch, Björn; Meyer, Karsten; König, Inke; Seidel, Günter · Ann Neurol · 2003

rct · Level II

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Abstract

We studied the effect of transcranial 2 MHz Doppler ultrasound (US) on the recanalization and outcome of stroke patients suffering from acute middle cerebral artery occlusion. All patients underwent intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator thrombolysis. Eleven patients were randomly selected for continuous US monitoring (C-US) over 1 hour; 14 patients were selected for the control group. The C-US group showed a higher grade of recanalization after 1 hour but also a higher number of intraparenchymal bleedings. Overall, a favorable functional outcome occurred more frequently in the C-US group (Barthel index, p = 0.037) after 3 months.

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