The neurointensive care unit (NICU) is a highly specialized in monitoring severe brain damages such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Cerebral blood flow is therefore a parameter of outmost importance to record in NICU. Our specific interest is cerebral microcirculation parameters monitored with laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Both long-term changes over many days, and short-term variations e.g. vasomotion are studied. As such LDF signals are compared with conventionally monitored circulatory indicators and MRI images of the macro cerebral blood flow. The aim of this multiparametric approach is to investigate the possibility to detect vasospasm, progressing into ischemia and brain infarction, and secondary bleedings in brain trauma at an early stage.
