PURPOSE: Our objective was to evaluate the sensitivity of transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonographic monitoring during permanent balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in predicting hemodynamic ischemia. METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive patients underwent controlled therapeutic balloon occlusion of the ICA. Selection criteria included assessment of the circle of Willis by compression angiography, clinical tolerance during a 20-minute test occlusion, and TCD monitoring of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery. The mean blood flow velocity (MBFV) (n = 32) and pulsatility index (PI) (n = 28) were recorded. In 25 patients, MBFV changes upon motor stimulation were recorded before and after ICA occlusion. RESULTS: Twenty-eight (88%) of the patients had no complications. Three patients suffered delayed symptoms 30 minutes to 20 hours after balloon detachment. Two of these patients recovered spontaneously within 1 day, the other improved after extracranial/intracranial (EC/IC) bypass surgery. One patient, who did not tolerate the test occlusion, suffered a hemodynamic stroke despite EC/IC bypass before permanent balloon occlusion. No embolic complications occurred. The mean MBFV reduction was 20% (range, 0% to 55%); the mean PI reduction was 20% (range, 0% to 56%). No complications occurred in patients who had mild MBFV and PI reduction (30% or less, n = 21). All three patients with severe MBFV or PI reduction (> 50%) had neurologic symptoms. Among those with moderate MBFV or PI reduction (30% to 50%, n = 8), symptoms developed in only one patient who had moderate reduction of both MBFV (33%) and PI (38%). Motor vasoreactivity showed wide variation and was markedly reduced in two symptomatic patients. CONCLUSION: TCD monitoring reflects changes in cerebral hemodynamics after therapeutic balloon occlusion of the ICA. MBFV and PI reductions under 30% are highly predictive of clinical tolerance. A reduction of more than 50% may be a critical threshold for the occurrence of symptoms; in such cases, EC/IC bypass should be considered before proceeding with permanent balloon occlusion.
