Consider Transcranial Doppler for Moderate and Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries

The authors reply

“…We appreciate the concepts expressed by Schmitt et al (1) about our publication (2), published recently in Critical Care Medicine . The principal aim of our proposal’s was to categorize and stratify the risk of moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients through the use of two universally accepted and validated clinical (Glasgow Coma Scale) and imaging (CT scan) variables (2).…”

“…Additionally, high resistance patterns (increased pulsatility index and decreased diastolic flow) have been associated with intracranial hypertension (ICHt) (3). It is in the latter context, as Schmitt et al (1) well point out, where the published series establish a relationship between TCD findings and neurologic deterioration in moderate TBI (1,4); however, it is important to keep certain reflections in mind.…”