Neurointensive Care: Multiparametric Analysis of Cerebral Blood Flow for Detection of Brain Ischemia

This Neuroengineering project aims at combining optical monitoring with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for fundamental studies of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Successful outcome will detect vasospasm, progressing into ischemia and brain infarction, in patients treated in the neurointensive care unit (NICU).Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) adapted for NICU and standard methods (ICP, CCP, microdialysis, MAP, ECG, EEG) will be combined with daily MRI. Imaging is possible due to a new 3T MR scanner placed at the NICU.

Signal and image analysis methods will be developed for multiparametric processing.

Of special interest is the microvascular CBF and signal patterns recorded with LDF that relates to the cerebral autoregulation e.g. changes within seconds (cortical spreading polarization) and min/hrs (vasomotion, trends).

With our concept we have a unique possibility to study fundamental microcirculatory patterns in cerebral tissue and link these to other monitored parameters, MRI and patient status.

The project is grounded on existing expertise in biomedical optics and biomedical instrumentation, neurosurgery, neurointensive care, MR-physics and medical imaging.

The combination of fibre-optics with MRI will increase the knowledge of the human brain and open new horizons with high-gain for patients with TBI and SAH.