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[Wallenberg syndrome and vertebral artery dissection probably due to trivial trauma during golf exercise].

We report a 57-year-old man who developed Wallenberg syndrome and vertebral artery dissection, probably as a complication of neck rotation during golf exercise. He noticed pain in the neck during golf exercise. About 16 hours later, he developed numbness in the right hand, cold sweat, vertigo, hiccup, double vision and ataxia in gait. Neurological examination on the 22nd day revealed a right Wallenberg syndrome. The right vertebral angiogram showed a marked stenosis of the vertebral artery at the portion across the dura, and a dissecting aneurysm in the portion from its entrance into the posterior fossa through the exit of the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Quick rotation and/or extension of the neck and head during golf exercise probably caused the vertebral artery dissection, resulting in Wallenberg syndrome. More attention should be paid to relatively trivial trauma as the cause of stroke, especially in the victims of younger ages.

Aortic Dissection↗

Carotid and vertebral artery dissection syndromes.

Cervicocerebral arterial dissections (CAD) are an important cause of strokes in younger patients accounting for nearly 20% of strokes in patients under the age of 45 years. Extracranial internal carotid artery dissections comprise 70%-80% and extracranial vertebral dissections account for about 15% of all CAD. Aetiopathogenesis of CAD is incompletely understood, though trauma, respiratory infections, and underlying arteriopathy are considered important. A typical picture of local pain, headache, and ipsilateral Horner's syndrome followed after several hours by cerebral or retinal ischaemia is rare. Doppler ultrasound, MRI/MRA, and CT angiography are useful non-invasive diagnostic tests. The treatment of extracranial CAD is mainly medical using anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents although controlled studies to show their effectiveness are lacking. The prognosis of extracranial CAD is generally much better than that of the intracranial CAD. Recurrences are rare in CAD.

Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection↗

Traumatic bilateral vertebral artery dissection at the dural entry point site in a 10-year-old boy.

We present a 10-year-old boy who was admitted with headache and neurological symptoms after a trauma in the school yard. Cerebral MRI revealed an extensive ischaemia in the bilateral cerebellar hemispheres, left middle cerebellar peduncle, and right vermis. Digital subtraction angiography demonstrated bilateral vertebral artery dissections at the dural entry point site. This case emphasises the management of patients with traumatic vertebral artery dissection.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction↗

Endovascular management of symptomatic vertebral artery dissection achieved using stent angioplasty and emboli protection device.

Extracranial vertebral artery (VA) dissection may lead to significant arterial stenosis, occlusion, or pseudoaneurysm formation with subsequent hemodynamic and embolic infarcts. To prevent thromboembolic complications, anticoagulation with intravenous heparin followed by oral warfarin has been recommended for all patients with acute dissections, regardless of the type of symptoms, unless there are contra-indications. Nevertheless, anticoagulation is not innocuous, may be contra-indicated or may be ineffective to prevent symptoms or dissection progression. Because it is effective and less invasive than other surgical procedures, endovascular treatment of VA dissection has recently attracted interest. We present a case of a traumatic VA dissection, presenting with multiple embolic infarctions that was managed with protected stent-assisted angioplasty. Protected stent-assisted VA angioplasty has not been previously reported and appears to be a safe, effective and immediate method of restoring vessel lumen integrity and should be considered in the therapy of selected cases of VA dissection.

Adolescent↗

Delayed sequelae of vertebral artery dissection and occult cervical fractures.

We report three patients who developed delayed (ie, more than a week after the injury) symptoms of vertebrobasilar ischemia following motor vehicle accidents. The patients all had angiographic evidence of vertebral artery dissection and, upon further evaluation, occult fractures of the second cervical vertebra that were not detected by simple cervical spine radiography and required polytomography or CT for diagnosis. Vertebral artery dissection can result from occult cervical spine fractures and may present with delayed symptoms of brain ischemia.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Intracranial vertebral artery dissections: clinical, radiological features, and surgical considerations.

We reviewed 24 patients with intracranial vertebral artery dissections treated during the last 12 years. Sixteen patients were admitted with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and 8 did not have SAH. The mean age at the time of onset was 50.0 years. Male preponderance was noted. Among 21 patients with acute onset, 6 (29%) experienced prodromal neck pain and 3 (60%) of 5 SAH patients showed nuchal stiffness when examined within 6 hours of onset. The preoperative angiographical findings were uniform in SAH cases in contrast to the varied angiographical findings seen in non-SAH cases. So-called pearl and string sign was observed in most SAH cases, but the "string" was often so short and wide that the term "constriction" appeared more suitable. From intraoperative observations, the angiographical point of constriction seemed to represent the proximal or distal end of dissection. As for treatment, 19 patients underwent 20 surgeries. Trapping was performed in eight surgeries, base clipping was performed in five, and proximal clipping was performed in seven. Both trapping and base clipping prevented further bleeding, but trapping was associated with a high rate of postoperative lower cranial nerve palsy. Postoperative neurological complications were less frequent after proximal clipping, but subsequent postoperative bleeding occurred in one patient treated by this technique. The overall long-term outcome in the surgically treated cases in our series was favorable, but most patients suffered from various degrees of uncomfortable dysphagia or hoarseness for some period after surgery. It was also noted that, in half of the disabled cases, the major disability was attributable to lower cranial nerve palsy and respiratory troubles that developed postoperatively.

Adult↗

Lethal vertebral artery dissection in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage represents a rare event in pregnancy with a high mortality rate. We present the case of a 39-year-old pregnant woman who developed right vertebral artery dissection with subsequent massive subarachnoid hemorrhage with fatal outcome. The macroscopic and microscopic autopsy findings are described. A review of the literature with a discussion of the varied predisposing factors for vertebral artery dissection and subarachnoid hemorrhage and the rarity of these events in pregnancy is provided.

Adult↗

Hemi-spinal cord infarction due to vertebral artery dissection in congenital afibrinogenemia.

Isolated ischemia of the cervical spinal cord is an uncommon but increasingly recognized complication of vertebral artery dissection (VAD). The authors report a young patient with congenital afibrinogenemia, who developed VAD with extensive unilateral spinal cord infarction, probably caused by local compression of spinal radicular feeders at their origin by vertebral artery hematoma.

Adult↗

Use of histomorphometry in the assessment of fatal vertebral artery dissection.

AIM: To assess morphometrically the structural changes, which occur with ageing, along the length of the vertebral artery. METHODS: A series of 36 vessels were removed at necropsy from subjects aged between 9 months and 86 years. Image analysis was used to measure the medial width, the circumference, the intimal: medial area ratio and the adventitial: medial area ratio along each artery. The artery from a case of fatal vertebral artery dissection, which occurred after a game of cricket and then chiropractic neck manipulation, was also examined in the same manner. The proteoglycan accumulation in the media was quantified using an eyepiece graticule. RESULTS: The vertebral arteries were, on average, larger around the origin of the vessel from the subclavian artery, and the adventitia were relatively thicker at this point, and also after piercing the dura mater. The media were much thinner within the intracranial segment and pronounced intimal thickening occurred with increasing age. The dissected artery showed undoubtable pre-existent structural abnormalities, in the form of massive proteoglycan accumulation, which predisposes an artery to dissection. CONCLUSIONS: These data should help pathologists faced with the task of assessing the underlying structural integrity of the vessel wall in cases of vertebral artery injury.

Adolescent↗

Emergent endovascular treatment of ruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the results of endovascular and surgical treatments for ruptured vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms (VADAs) to determine which treatment is preferable. We evaluated the cases of 25 consecutive patients with ruptured VADAs treated in our institution. From 1992 to 1997, five patients were treated surgically. Since 1998, 20 patients with VADAs have been treated with endovascular therapy. The goal of the treatment was to exclude the aneurysm from the circulation. Among the five patients undergoing surgery, three aneurysms were treated with proximal clipping, one with trapping, and one with dome clipping. None of the patients were treated during the acute stage of rupture. Transient complications occurred in two patients. Of the 20 patients treated through the endovascular approach, 15 were treated within 24 h of rupture, but 12 had rebleeding before treatment. Eighteen aneurysms were occluded, along with the affected vertebral artery (VA), by using detachable coils (internal trapping), and one was occluded with the VA preserved. A stent-assisted occlusion of one aneurysm was done in a patient who had a contralateral hypoplastic VA. In both groups, the outcome of each patient depended greatly on the patient's condition before treatment and whether there was rebleeding. No posttreatment bleeding occurred. All procedures were effective, but endovascular treatment was less invasive and easier to use during the acute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Although this report does not describe a controlled study, we found that endovascular treatment is preferable for treating ruptured VADAs in the acute stage.

Adult↗

[Extracranial vertebral artery dissection repeating distal embolism: case report].

We report a case of vertebral artery (VA) dissection presenting with repeated distal embolism. A 48-year-old man was admitted to our institution with neck pain and vertigo of two day duration. MRI on arrival showed infarction of the left cerebellar hemisphere and the right occipital lobe. Emergency angiography revealed left VA dissection and occlusion of the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery and right calcaline artery. Six hours after admission, he manifested cortical blindness due to embolism of the contralateral left calcaline artery despite giving heparin and aspirin. Thrombolysis was performed but was not successful. We embolized the affected VA to prevent further embolism. We discuss here the indication and timing of treatment for VA dissection presenting with ischemic symptom.

Blindness, Cortical↗

[Endovascular treatment for vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm: effectiveness of internal trapping with proximal flow arrest].

Ruptured vertebral artery (VA) dissecting aneurysms are associated with a higher incidence of rebleeding than saccular aneurysms, so, it is encouraged that diagnosis be followed by early treatment. The standard treatment for VA dissecting aneurysms is internal trapping using an endovascular technique. In this procedure, a proximal flow arrest is sometimes used to ensure safety. In this report, we demonstrated the usefulness of proximal flow arrest. The subjects consisted of seven patients treated with endovascular treatment for ruptured VA dissecting aneurysms from 1997 to 2005. Two of the seven patients were treated without proximal flow arrest and one of the two encountered rerupture of the aneurysm at coil embolization. Five patients were treated with proximal flow arrest. Internal trapping was safely completed in these patients. Overall outcomes measurment by Glasgow Outcome Scale were good recovery in three, moderate disability in one, vegetative state in one and dead in two. Proximal flow arrest is considered to be useful for the following four reasons: 1) for the prevention of distal embolism; 2) for the prevention of distal coil migration; and 3) to block blood flow upon rerupture; 4) for the balloon occlusion test, but the necessity of this technique is now controversial. However it is difficult to prove the necessity, we believe it is an effective optional technique for safety embolization.

Aged↗

Spontaneous healing of cervical pseudoaneurysm in vertebral artery dissection under anticoagulant therapy.

We report a 41-year-old woman with embolic stroke of the mid-pons attributed to embolism from vertebral artery dissection. Angiography revealed an occluded artery on one side and an incidental pseudoaneurysm of the midcervical portion of the vertebral artery on the other. After 3 months of warfare in therapy control angiography showed complete occlusion of the pseudoaneurysm. We discuss therapeutic choices and review the literature.

Adult↗

Duplex scanning in extracranial vertebral artery dissection.

Ultrasonic (duplex scanning and continuous-wave Doppler) and angiographic findings in three patients with bilateral extracranial vertebral artery dissection are reported. A pattern of ultrasonic anomalies diagnostic of dissection is described, including association of a localized increase in diameter of the artery with hemodynamic signs of stenosis or occlusion at the same level and decreased pulsatility and presence of intravascular echoes in the enlarged segment.

Adult↗

Bilateral medial medullary infarction due to bilateral vertebral artery dissection.

We describe a 52-year-old woman who experienced transient motor weakness and numbness of the left extremities and presented 2 days later with severe hemiparesis and sensory impairment of the right extremities and right lingual palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed bilateral upper medial medullary infarction, primarily in the left ventral portion. The findings of both three-dimensional (3D) computed tomographic and conventional angiography suggested dissection of both intracranial vertebral arteries (VAs). Medial medullary infarction is generally caused by atherosclerosis within a VA or anterior spinal artery. This is the first report of bilateral medial medullary infarction due to dissection of both intracranial VAs.

Brain Stem Infarctions↗