The Doppler ultrasonic flowmeter as an adjunct to operative management of cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

The Doppler ultrasonic flowmeter has been used to assist in the removal of five intracranial arteriovenous malformations. The instrument is generally available in most institutions, and is simple and easy to use. It provides a means for locating and confirming the boundaries of a malformation, distinguishing feeding arteries from arterialized draining veins, determining whether the artery is going to the malformation or normal brain, and evaluating the completeness of obliteration.