I’m Juelma Emanuela Cazevo Gaspar and I’m passionate about using cutting-edge technology to improve the lives of people with sickle cell anemia.
I recently had the opportunity to spend six months at Hospital Santa Maria in Lisbon, diving deep into the world of transcranial Doppler (TCD). This non-invasive technique uses ultrasound to measure blood flow in the brain, which is super important for sickle cell patients. Why? Because sickle cell disease can cause red blood cells to become misshapen, potentially leading to blockages in blood vessels. TCD helps us catch these potential blockages early on.
During my training, I learned from the best in the field, the cardiopneumology team at Hospital Santa Maria. They taught me the ins and outs of TCD evaluation, with a special focus on sickle cell patients. We looked for signs of narrowing or blockages in the blood vessels, which can significantly increase the risk of stroke.
Early detection is absolutely key in preventing strokes in sickle cell patients. Research shows that children with high blood flow velocities in certain brain arteries are at a much higher risk. But, if we catch it early using TCD, we can intervene with treatments like blood transfusions, which have been shown to reduce the risk of stroke by an incredible 90%.
I’m so grateful for this experience and the knowledge I’ve gained. It’s going to be a game-changer in my work with sickle cell patients. By using TCD, we can detect potential problems early and take action to prevent strokes, ultimately improving the quality of life for these individuals.