As part of its interventional stroke program, Munson Medical Center (MMC) has installed a transcranial doppler machine (TCD) that can be used for transcranial doppler and bubble studies. Munson Healthcare is the only stroke program in northern Michigan, and one of just a few in the nation, to have this equipment.
A transcranial Doppler (TCD) study uses sound waves to detect medical problems that might be preventing the blood from delivering enough oxygen to the patient’s brain. A bubble study is a TCD study where tiny bubbles are injected into a blood vessel and then sound waves determine if the bubbles reach the brain, which may indicate an abnormal opening between two chambers of the heart. This opening can allow blood clots to pass through and cause a stroke.
TCD or bubble study can:
- Identify whether spasms, clots, or plaque are blocking blood flow to the brain
- Identify whether a patient has an abnormal opening inside his/her heart
Alternatives to a TCD study may include an MRI or CT scan. Alternatives to a bubble study may include echocardiogram, MRI, or cardiac catheterization.
When to Order a TCR or Bubble Study:
- Passing out or fainting
- Stroke or mini-stroke
- A dissected artery in the brain
- Suspected patent foramen ovale
- Sickle cell anemia
- Chronic migraines
How to Refer
If you think your patient would benefit from a transcranial doppler study (with/without bubble study or with/without embolic detection), it can be ordered through radiology.