Doppler ultrasound cost effective in identifying stroke victims

17 Jun 2002

Doppler ultrasound can save thousands of dollars by identifying which stroke patients should have an arteriogram, new research shows. Currently, if a patient has a stroke or has symptoms that a stroke may occur an arteriogram is done to determine if a blocked carotid artery caused the stroke or symptoms. Arteriograms are more expensive than ultrasound and they hold a small risk of actually causing a stroke, says Dr. Colin Derdeyn, instructor of radiology, University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Blocked carotid arteries are a leading cause of strokes and patients with stroke symptoms and narrowed carotid arteries need to undergo surgery to avoid a major stroke, says Dr. Derdeyn. Many patients, however, have symptoms of stroke or may have had a stroke for some other reason, he says. Their carotid arteries are normal. Doppler ultrasound can reliably identify which of these patients has normal carotid arteries. These patients do not need to have an arteriogram or go onto surgery, Dr. Derdeyn told the American Roentgen Ray Society at its annual meeting May 8 in San Diego. This could save thousands of dollars, he says.