Microembolic signal detection by transcranial Doppler: Old method with a new indication

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is useful for investigation of intracranial arterial blood flow and can be used to detect a real-time embolic signal. Unfortunately, artefacts can mimic the embolic signal, complicating interpretation and necessitating expert-level opinion to distinguish the two. Resolving this situation is critical to achieve improved accuracy and utility of TCD for patients with disrupted intracranial arterial blood flow, such as stroke victims. A common type of stroke encountered in the clinic is cryptogenic stroke (or stroke with undetermined etiology), and patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been associated with the condition. An early clinical trial of PFO closure effect on secondary stroke prevention failed to demonstrate any benefit for the therapy, and research into the PFO therapy generally diminished. However, the recent publication of large randomized control trials with demonstrated benefit of PFO closure for recurrent stroke prevention has rekindled the interest in PFO in patients with cryptogenic stroke. To confirm that emboli across the PFO can reach the brain, TCD should be applied to detect the air embolic signal after injection of agitated saline bubbles at the antecubital vein. In addition, the automated embolic signal detection method should further facilitate use of TCD for air embolic signal detection after the agitated saline bubbles injection in patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO.