[The possibilities for the transcranial monitoring of the blood flow in the circle of Willis arteries during operations on the brachiocephalic arteries and in heart operations].

The paper gives the results of arterial blood flow monitoring in the circle of Willis via transcranial Doppler during 81 reparative operations on brachiocephalic arteries (including carotid endarterectomy from the internal carotid artery in 32 patients). Transcranial monitoring of blood flow supports the fact that there is a collateral reflow along the cerebral arteries during removal of the common carotid artery and that there is a relationship between the status of great arteries and arteries of Willis' circle. The paper also summaries the results of a comprehensive ultrasound study of 9 patients who have undergone reparative and plastic operations on the cardiac valves during extracorporeal circulation and general hypothermia. Blood flow was intraoperatively monitored in the arteries of the basis cerebri by using transcranial duplex scanning with colour Doppler flow mapping to evaluate not only hemodynamics, but also the embolic situation, as well as to check up how air was removed from the cardiac cavities by transesophageal echocardiography.