Quantification of Cerebral Perfusion at the Patient's Bedside Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Neurointensive Care Patients

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating brain tissue perfusion in patients with acute brain injuries using contrast-enhanced ultrasound perfusion imaging (PerCEUS). This study aims to assess the unevenness of brain blood flow to diagnose areas of poor perfusion and to compare these findings with standard multimodal monitoring techniques. The study focuses on patients admitted to neurointensive care with confirmed acute brain injuries. The PerCEUS procedure involves using a specialized ultrasound machine to perform imaging at the patient's bedside, targeting specific brain regions identified by MRI or CT scans. The imaging captures detailed perfusion data within about 5 minutes, focusing on the lesion core, surrounding tissue, and the corresponding area in the opposite hemisphere. This imaging is done alongside routine monitoring methods such as intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, arterial pressure, cerebral oxygen saturation, and jugular venous oxygen levels. Participants undergo the PerCEUS imaging shortly after hospital admission when contrast ultrasound is needed, without delaying emergency care. The study session lasts approximately 30 minutes, including 25 minutes of observation after the imaging. Researchers analyze the data offline, measuring perfusion heterogeneity through time-to-peak and peak intensity, and correlate these with standard monitoring results. The study concludes with safety oversight, aiming to improve understanding of brain blood flow in acute injury situations.

Brain PERfusion Evaluation by Contrast-Enhanced UltraSound