ABSTRACT

Colour Doppler imaging of the ophthalmic artery is a non-invasive, fast, and easy access ultrasound technique. Estimation of cerebral perfusion from colour Doppler imaging of the ophthalmic artery is a technique with great potential in this field. In the present case, we monitored blood flow of the ophthalmic artery by colour Doppler ultrasonography during heart transplantation, and we obtained information about the adequacy of the perfusion. Colour Doppler imaging of the ophthalmic artery may be a useful method that can be applied for monitoring cerebral perfusion during heart transplantation and all cardiac operations in order to detect impaired cerebral blood flow.

Keywords: Cardiovascular and thoracic anaesthesia, cerebral monitoring, colour Doppler imaging, heart transplantation, ophthalmic artery