Sometimes, outwardly, a person looks completely healthy, but feels constant weakness and experiences frequent dizziness. In this case, an experienced doctor will suspect insufficient blood supply to the brain and will offer to examine brachiocephalic vessels. How is such an examination and what threatens a person with this condition?
What are brachiocephalic arteries?
We are talking about the main vessels involved in the blood supply to the soft tissues of the head and brain. In order for the brain to receive the necessary amount of blood, the carotid, brachiocephalic and left branches of the subclavian artery are involved in its supply. But it is the brachiocephalic vessels that play the main role in this important process. Two other arteries can be considered additional ways of blood supply, but in case of failure of the main one they will not cope with the task.
What is the Wellisian Circle?
The carotid, brachiocephalic and left branches of the subclavian artery at the base of the brain form a vicious circle, namely it is called Vellizievym. The circle is responsible for the uniform provision of all parts of the brain with fresh blood. It includes arteries that supply blood to the right side of the shoulder girdle. If the patency of some part of the circle is impaired, the entire system is forced to rebuild, as a result of which the uniform distribution of blood is disturbed. Such a violation of cerebral blood supply can have very serious consequences, for example, lead to a stroke.
What is atherosclerosis?
Very often, brachiocephalic vessels suffer from atherosclerosis. This disease is attributed to chronic processes. It is expressed in the deposition of cholesterol atheromatous plaques in the lumen of the vessel. Plaques lead to the growth of connective tissue and calcification of the elastic walls, as a result of which the vessel is deformed, narrowed, and sometimes completely clogged.
Medicine distinguishes between two types of disease:
- Neurostenosing , i.e. atherosclerosis, in which cholesterol plaques grow in length without blocking the lumen of the vessel.
- Stenosing , that is, atherosclerosis with transverse proliferation of plaques. This species is more dangerous, as it can completely block the bloodstream.
The treatment of atherosclerosis depends on the type and stage of the disease.
Diagnostics
To confirm or refute the cause of the patient's well-being, the doctor prescribes studies of brachiocephalic vessels. For these purposes, modern equipment is used that is not associated with x-ray irradiation, for example, ultrasound and ultrasound or magnetic resonance angiography, which uses a contrast agent and x-ray.
Survey
Ultrasound of brachiocephalic vessels is considered the optimal research method. Ultrasonic waves make it possible to determine both the anatomical state and the degree of patency of the arteries. The procedure is extremely simple and does not require complex preparation from the patient. The examination is carried out by a special apparatus. The patient is placed on a couch, a roller is placed under the neck. At the request of the diagnostician, the head must be turned in the direction opposite to the sensor.
Ultrasound
In the recent past, brachiocephalic vessels were examined only by dopleography. Doppler made it possible to determine the direction and velocity of blood flow, but was unable to evaluate structural changes in the vascular walls. The sensor sent a wave that reflected off the elements of the blood. Even with its imperfection, the technique saved many human lives, allowing time to restore blood supply to the brain. When conducting ultrasound of brachiocephalic vessels, the graph and spectrum were displayed on the display, and not the image of the arteries. Thus, the diagnostician received incomplete information about the patient's condition.
Many doctors today use the method of "blind dopleography", because it does not require large expenses either from medical institutions or from patients. The method detects only gross violations, but takes little time. If serious problems are identified during the examination of brachiocephalic vessels, the patient receives an additional appointment for duplex or triplex scanning.
Duplex scanning
This type of examination of the vessels of the neck and head is also based on ultrasonic waves. The duplex method is called due to the fact that it combines two-dimensional ultrasound with Doppler mode. The technique allows you to see not only the graph and spectrum of movement, but also to obtain a two-dimensional picture of the brachiocephalic vessel. The screen shows the structural features of blood vessels and tissues. For convenience, the movement of blood through the arteries is shown in red, and venous blood in blue.
Duplex scanning of brachiocephalic vessels evaluates the following parameters:
- blood flow volume;
- the speed of its advancement in the vessels;
- structural features of arteries and veins;
- blood flow obstruction;
- condition of adjacent tissues.
The method allows you to determine a number of vascular pathologies of the brachiocephalic arteries, which include: atherosclerosis, various vasculitis, angiopathy, structural abnormalities, vascular deformities, aneurysms that connect the fistulas between the venous and arterial blood flow, thrombosis and much more.
Triplex study
Do you think this is a revolutionary breakthrough in the field of research on the vessels of the neck and head? In fact, the whole difference lies only in the number of assessment modes. On the screen during the duplex examination there are 2 evaluation modes, and during the triplex examination - 3. It may be more convenient for the doctor to examine the image, but the quality of the diagnosis from this increases slightly. If the cost of the procedure does not play a big role for the patient, then he can undergo a triplex examination. But if the price matters, then a duplex examination to make an accurate diagnosis will be enough.
Many modern triplex devices have a 3D modeling function. In fact, this is a beautiful expensive picture that can be done for complacency. This examination does not give the doctor additional information.
Preparatory period and contraindications
On the eve of the procedure, special preparation is not required. Ultrasound examination of brachiocephalic vessels can be carried out immediately after the appointment, since neither the food nor the physical condition of the patient have a great influence on the result. The only thing you should refuse is the use of foods or drinks that cause vasospasm. This is ordinary tea and coffee, Pepsi or Cola drinks, all kinds of energy drinks, alcohol and cigarettes. If the patient takes the medications prescribed by the doctor, then you do not need to postpone the reception.
Ultrasound of the main vessels supplying blood to the brain can be performed even for pregnant and lactating mothers. Contraindications for the study can only be a fresh neck injury or pustular lesions in this area. Due to the fact that the sensor will act on the neck and gel will be applied. Such exposure may exacerbate the injury or cause the infection to spread through the skin.
What is given to the patient’s hands
The diagnosis is obliged to give the patient a conclusion describing the condition of the investigated vessels. The conclusion should contain a maximum of information useful for making a diagnosis. This is the size of the vessels, and the speed of blood flow, and other parameters. It is advisable to attach pictures of problem areas detected by the diagnostician.