Continuous monitoring of vertebrobasilar hemodynamics utilizing TCDS transducer holder Sonopod during postural changes

Abstract

Methods: Subjects were five normal controls and seven patients: two patients with arterial hypertension, three with dizziness (peripheral neuropathy, hepatic cirrhosis, and unknown), one with lacunar infarction and diabetes mellitus (LI/ DM), and one with spino-cerebellar degeneration (SCD). TCDS utilizing the transducer holder Sonopod was used to continuously monitor the intracranial VA and BA. Blood pressure (BP), heart and respiration rates were also monitored. During two series of postural changes (supine or sitting to/from standing), a) clinical symptoms, b) BP: systolic, mean, and diastolic pressures (SBP, MBP, and DBP), c) TCDS: time-averaged maximum velocity (Vmax) and pulsatility index (PI), estimated cerebrovascular resistance (eCVR) = MBP/Vmax, and autoregulation index (ARI) = %ΔeCVR/%ΔMBP, were all calculated on the basis of maximum and minimum values during both series and of separate values from sitting to standing.