Dysarthria during basilar artery balloon occlusion.
A 49-year-old woman presenting with recurrent, reversible brainstem symptoms and a distal basilar artery aneurysm underwent balloon test occlusion. Five minutes after balloon inflation she developed a reversible isolated dysarthria. Despite failing the test occlusion (and after an additional brainstem event), the patient underwent surgery with placement of a clip across the basilar artery. The operation was tolerated without complication. The authors conclude that 1) pure dysarthria may be a symptom of temporary basilar artery occlusion and 2) balloon testing may overestimate the risk of basilar artery clipping.
Hartmann
A
A
The Neurological Institute, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Conolly
E S
ES
Duong
D H
DH
Prestigiacomo
C J
CJ
Joshi
S
S
Mohr
J P
JP
Mast
H
H
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged