Transcranial Doppler Added to Imaging Services

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June 25, 2010 News Releases
Transcranial Doppler, an advanced imaging tool that measures blood flow in the major arteries of the brain, is now available at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center. This diagnostic test is commonly used to identify patients with carotid artery disease who are at highest risk for stroke.

Carotid artery disease is the narrowing of the carotid arteries. These are the main arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain. The narrowing is often caused by the build up of cholesterol, fat and other substances – a condition known as atherosclerosis – which is a leading cause of stroke.

In many cases, when more than 65 percent of a carotid artery is blocked, doctors recommend carotid endarterectomy. This procedure surgically removes the fatty deposits blocking the artery. However, recent studies suggest not all patients with a blockage of 65 percent or more need surgical treatment. Sometimes, medical therapy is effective.

A transcranial Doppler study is one way to determine which treatment is appropriate. Using ultrasound waves, the equipment is able to detect particles in the arteries of the brain called micro emboli. If micro emboli are present, surgical treatment may be recommended. If micro emboli are not detected, the patient may have the option to continue medical therapy and avoid an invasive surgical procedure.

“Transcranial Doppler is a valuable diagnostic tool with the ability to feasibly and inexpensively indicate whether a patient truly stands to benefit from carotid artery surgical intervention versus intensive medical therapy,” explains John W. Royalty, DO, board certified in vascular and thoracic surgery.

Dr. Royalty and his colleagues William R. Gelinas, DO, Bharat V. Parikh, MD, R. Prasad Potu, MD and Gopal Tatambhotla, MD support the use of transcranial Doppler in determining the appropriate treatment for patients with carotid artery disease greater than 65 percent.

Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center is pleased to bring this diagnostic test to the community. Learn more>>

About Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center
Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center, a 128-bed general, medical/surgical acute care facility serving Citrus, Levy and South Marion Counties, opened its doors in 1978. Seven Rivers Regional is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and has earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ as a Certified Primary Stroke Center. The medical center is a recipient of the HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award™ (2010) ranking it among the top 5% in the nation for patient safety, is recognized with a Gold Sustained Performance Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) for its success with Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) and received a Performance Improvement Award from Florida Medical Quality Assurance, Inc. In addition, Seven Rivers Regional has been honored as one of the nation’s Top 100 Hospitals (1999, 2001) and Top 100 Hospital for Stroke (2000). Seven Rivers Regional can be found on the World Wide Web at www.srrmc.com.
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