Ischaemic stroke; role of Carotid Doppler

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of carotid atherosclerosis in ischemic stroke patients in our population using color Doppler ultrasound. Observational. This study was conducted in Medical Unit II of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from Oct 2002 to Feb 2003. All the patients admitted in our ward during this duration with CT scan proof of stroke were included in the study. Risk factors in all these patients were stratified. Complete history and examination was done and carotid Doppler ultrasound was performed on all patients with ischaemic stroke according to the study protocol. A total of 100 patients were included in this study following the above-mentioned protocol over a period of five months. 66% of these were having cerebral infarction. Hypertension [72%], diabetes [35%], smoking [29%] and obesity [20%] were the common risk factors in these patients. The frequency of significant carotid atherosclerosis in acute ischaemic stroke patients was 21%. Doppler ultrasound is non-invasive, safe and cost-effective modality for evaluation of carotid vessels. In symptomatic and high-risk group, it should be used as first diagnostic modality for management or selecting patients for further investigation