HEMODYNAMICS OF INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY IN NORMAL & HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: Hypertension remains one of the most prevalent and consequential public-health challenges, contributing substantially to morbidity and mortality through its adverse effects on the heart and brain. Given its role as the principal conduit for cerebral circulation, the internal carotid artery (ICA) is especially sensitive to the altered flow dynamics that accompany sustained increases in systemic pressure.

Objective(s): The present investigation sought to characterize and contrast the hemodynamic profile of the ICA in patients with established hypertension and age-matched normotensive controls, employing non-invasive Doppler sonography as its primary tool. Specifically, the study examined Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End-Diastolic Velocity (EDV), Resistive Index (RI) and Pulsatility Index (PI) in order to assess their diagnostic utility for detecting incipient vascular compromise in the hypertensive cohort.

Methodology: One hundred volunteers aged 40 to 70 years were recruited consecutively at the University Ultrasound Clinic, Green Town Hospital, and allocated to hypertensive (n=32) and normotensive (n=68) groups according to established clinical criteria. All participants underwent standardized duplex Doppler assessment with Toshiba and Xario ultrasound systems fitted with high-resolution linear transducers. Hemodynamic indices were compared between groups using independent t-tests, with statistical significance defined at p < 0.05.

Results: Patients with hypertension showed notably higher mean resistance index (RI 0.8466) and pulsatility index (PI 2.1091), along with reduced end-diastolic velocity (EDV 27.32 cm/s) when compared with normotensive controls (RI 0.6241, PI 1.4966, EDV 39.44 cm/s). Peak-systolic velocity (PSV) was also significantly greater in the hypertensive cohort (103.88 cm/s) than in the normotensive group (84.63 cm/s). Each of these differences reached strong statistical significance (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Hypertension produces clear alterations in internal carotid artery flow patterns. Doppler ultrasound reliably captures these hemodynamic changes and therefore holds promise for early identification of cerebrovascular risk, potentially guiding more effective clinical management of affected patients