Usefulness of transcranial color Doppler ultrasonography in aortic arch surgery.

Background: Hypothermia in combination with selective cerebral perfusion is a well-documented technique for cerebral protection during aortic arch surgery. However, such complex surgery is still accompanied by a considerable incidence of neurological events.

Aim: This study describes the advantages of transcranial color Doppler ultrasound (TCDU) as a noninvasive real-time method for intraoperative monitoring of cerebral blood flow.