This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Brautaset, N. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Brautaset, N. J.

Stroke, Vol 23, 288-291, Copyright © 1992 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Provokable bilateral vertebral artery compression diagnosed with transcranial Doppler

NJ Brautaset
Department of Neurology, Vestfold Sentralsykehus, Tonsberg, Norway.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck movements may cause vascular compression that produces a syndrome of vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Vertebrobasilar circulation was examined noninvasively in two patients who were able to provoke these symptoms repeatedly on demand. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: Blood flow velocities in the basilar artery (case 1) and both posterior cerebral arteries (both cases) were measured continuously by transcranial Doppler sonography while the patients voluntarily performed the offending maneuvers and reproduced their symptoms. The provocative maneuvers evoked an immediate and precipitous drop in blood flow velocity, producing symptoms within seconds. Upon relief, the blood flow velocities showed a transient overshoot before returning to baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: These observations indicate that the symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency were due to real reductions in blood flow and demonstrate the usefulness of transcranial Doppler sonography to diagnose bilateral extracranial vertebral artery compression.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Sakaguchi, K. Kitagawa, H. Hougaku, H. Hashimoto, Y. Nagai, H. Yamagami, T. Ohtsuki, N. Oku, K. Hashikawa, K. Matsushita, et al. Mechanical compression of the extracranial vertebral artery during neck rotation Neurology, September 23, 2003; 61(6): 845 - 847. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. D. Sheth, M. Jaynes, M. Gingold, O. Ortiz, and J. B. Bodensteiner Stroke Due to a Traumatic Vertebral Artery Dissection in a Girl Clinical Pediatrics, August 1, 1994; 33(8): 503 - 506. [PDF]