Reversed flow in the basilar artery in acute vertebrobasilar ischemia.
Acute vertebrobasilar ischemia is a potentially sinister pathology with high mortality and poor functional outcome in survivors. We report the findings of multi-modal assessment (MRI and cerebrovascular ultrasonography) of cerebral hemodynamics in a patient who suffered from acute brainstem infarction with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 16 points. Our patient demonstrated reversal of blood flow in the basilar artery on the second day of his stroke and this was associated with significant and rapid clinical recovery over the following 2 days (NIHSS score dropped to 4 points). He had recovered completely when seen in the outpatient clinic 3 months later.
Sharma
Vijay K
VK
Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, 119074 Singapore. drvijay@singnet.com.sg
Teoh
Hock L
HL
Chan
Bernard P L
BP
Ong
Benjamin K C
BK
D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / Q000379:methods; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*