Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. People who are at risk of stroke often live without knowing if and when a stroke will happen. What if we were able to reduce the unknowns for stroke?
The Neurology team at Hennepin Healthcare has introduced a new imaging technology to their practice ‒ Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) ‒ to assess functional activities of brain vessels. A TCD ultrasound study is a specialized form of ultrasound used to look at blood flow in the brain’s major arteries. By measuring the speed and direction of blood flow, TCD helps find conditions like narrowed blood vessels or abnormal blood flow patterns. It also has a unique capability that can visualize small particles of blood clot traveling within the brain vessels. It is often used to assess patients with stroke, head trauma, or other cerebrovascular diseases.
The idea to bring TCD to Hennepin Healthcare came from Behnam Sabayan, MD, a member of the Neurology team who has spearheaded the use of this technology and launched the SAVE-BRAIN initiative. With the help of Hennepin Health reinvestment funds, they were able to purchase a TCD and hire and train a brain vascular imaging technologist.
Dr. Sabayan and his colleagues began a trial of the technology in September 2024 but soon found out that there was a high demand and many uses for TCD. The trial month included 25 patient appointments, which grew to 70 in October and 80 in November. Just in January 2025, more than 100 studies completed. The studies were utilized in the treatment of patients who are in the hospital, at clinic appointments, and even in Ophthalmologic (eye and vision) care. Hennepin Healthcare now hosts the Twin Cities' only comprehensive cerebrovascular ultrasound lab, attracting not only internal referrals but also interest from other health systems. The team anticipates that the volume of patients served by this lab will continue to grow over time.
The use of TCD will benefit Hennepin Health patients and the community at large not only in patient care but also through research and education. Providers are interested in learning more about this advanced imaging technology and how it can be used to better treat and prevent vascular issues.
Hennepin Healthcare strives to be a leader in the use of TCD in the Twin Cities and to one day be a main center of expertise in TCD in the United States. Hennepin Health is eager to see this program grow ‒ improving the health of our members and the broader community.
Learn more about TCD
References:
Stroke Facts, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention