What are the symptoms of vertebral artery dissection?

In the case of vertebral artery disease, symptoms may be minimal or severe. Symptoms run the gamut from vertigo, nausea and vomiting, changes in level of consciousness, headache, and speech disturbance as well as obvious severe neurologic deficits.

What causes tear in artery in neck?

Cervical artery dissection can be caused by sudden movement of your neck or an injury to your neck, including: high-impact injuries, such as from a car crash. minor neck injuries, such as from doing judo or yoga. neck strain from activities such as overhead painting.

How do you know if you tore an artery in your neck?

If you have vertebral artery dissection, you may have some similar symptoms to those above, such as a severe headache and neck pain. But you may have other symptoms as well, including: face pain and numbness. difficulty speaking or swallowing.

Can a dissected artery heal?

Although arterial dissections often heal on their own, most children with dissections require treatment to prevent strokes while the dissection heals. The most common therapy for children is an anti-clotting medicine or blood thinner, such as coumadin or aspirin.

Can you feel an artery tear?

If you have vertebral artery dissection, you may have some similar symptoms to those above, such as a severe headache and neck pain. But you may have other symptoms as well, including: face pain and numbness.

Is there an occlusion of the vertebrobasilar system?

Embolic occlusion of the vertebrobasilar system is not common and usually is artery-to-artery with occlusion of the basilar artery. Donor sites for the emboli typically are the aortic arch, the subclavian artery, and the origin of the vertebral arteries.

What are the side effects of vertebral artery dissection?

Complications include the following: 1 Brainstem infarction. 2 Cerebellar infarction. 3 Subarachnoid hemorrhage. 4 Vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm causing compressive cranial neuropathy.

What causes infarction in the vertebrobasilar bed?

Embolic phenomena cause infarction in vertebrobasilar territory in 9-40% of reported cases. The vertebrobasilar bed appears less susceptible than carotid circulation to embolic occlusion.

How often do TIAs occur in the vertebrobasilar distribution?

Approximately one fourth of strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) occur in the vertebrobasilar distribution. [ 1] Brainstem infarctions have been reported in autopsy series at a rate of 2 per 1000 cases. One clinical study has suggested that the disease occurs 25% as frequently as occlusions of the carotid artery and its branches.