CEREBRAL OXIMETRY AND STROKE DISTANCE - THE FUTURE OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT MONITORING

Objective-To illustrate the possible role of cerebral oximetry and str oke distance as measured by Doppler ultrasound in monitoring the criti cally ill patient noninvasively in the emergency department. Methods-F ive critically ill patients were monitored with either cerebral oximet ry or both cerebral oximetry and stroke distance (the distance travell ed by blood in the aorta with each ventricular contraction), as measur ed by Doppler ultrasound of the aortic arch. Conclusions-Stroke distan ce as measured by Doppler ultrasound was a good clinical indication of reduced stroke volume and hence of cardiac output, Cerebral oximetry appears to be a useful measure of tissue hypoxia in patients in whom p ulse oximetry is either unrecordable or unreliable.