A discussion of these techniques was expected from the candidates in Question 2 from the second paper of 2013, Question 5 from the first paper of 2013 and Question 8 from the first paper of 2008. Generally speaking, the college wants the candidates to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the various techniques.
Technique | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Clinical examination |
|
|
DSA |
|
|
CTA |
|
|
Transcranial Doppler |
|
|
EEG |
|
|
SPECT |
|
|
Chapter 51 (pp. 568) Acute cerebrovascular complications by Bernard Riley and Thearina de Beer
Marshall, Scott A., Paul Nyquist, and Wendy C. Ziai. "The role of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis and management of vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage." Neurosurgery Clinics of North America21.2 (2010): 291-303.
Greenberg, E. D., et al. "Diagnostic accuracy of CT angiography and CT perfusion for cerebral vasospasm: a meta-analysis." American Journal of Neuroradiology 31.10 (2010): 1853-1860.
Sloan, M. A., et al. "Sensitivity and specificity of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage." Neurology 39.11 (1989): 1514-1514.
Rivierez, M., et al. "Value of electroencephalogram in prediction and diagnosis of vasospasm after intracranial aneurysm rupture." Acta neurochirurgica 110.1-2 (1991): 17-23.