ABSTRACT
Monitoring cardiovascular and respiratory function is an important aspect of patient management in the intensive care unit (ICU) and operating room. Cardiovascular and pulmonary functions are continuously monitored during anesthesia and in critical care, but the monitoring of cerebrovascular function is not routinely performed. With the availability of non-invasive monitors like transcranial Doppler (TCD), quantitative electroencephalographic monitoring and near-infrared spectroscopy, continuous monitoring of cerebrovascular function is possible. Patient care can be enhanced when the information collected from these monitors are used to guide patient management. In this chapter, the role of ultrasound (US) in examining the central nervous system, including TCD, US of the optic nerve, and
direct visualization of the brain using 2D echography will be presented.
