Neurosonology

Head: Dr. med. Ramona Schuppner

Using the Doppler effect known from physics, named after the Austrian Christian Doppler, the speed and flow direction of the blood in a large part of the vessels supplying the brain can be displayed as a Doppler frequency shift using ultrasound waves. This allows vascular constrictions or occlusions to be detected. This non-invasive and painless procedure is mainly used to find the cause or to stratify the risk in patients who have suffered a stroke. In addition, the vessel wall, particularly of the carotid artery, can be assessed more closely and plaques and, if necessary, tears or inflammation of the vessel wall can be examined. In addition to the examination of the neck, in most people it is also possible to visualize the vessels inside the skull via a thin point in the bone above the temple and to look for constrictions and bypassing blood vessels. In addition, we also regularly visualize the temporal artery (A. temporalis superficialis) in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis. As part of studies, other methods such as embolism detection are used via continuous monitoring of blood flow in the brain.

In addition to inpatients, we also see outpatients via the neurovascular consultation hour, for example for follow-up checks after carotid artery stenosis surgery (carotid thrombendarterectomy) or stenting, as well as patients following vascular wall tears (dissections).