Vertebral and carotid artery dissection: Difference between revisions

No edit summary
No edit summary
(35 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
==Background==
==Background==
*Primarily categorized as Spontaneous vs. Traumatic
*Most frequent cause of [[CVA]] in young and middle-aged patients (median age - 40yrs)
*Most frequent cause of [[CVA]] in young and middle-aged patients (median age - 40yrs)
*Symptoms may be transient or persistent
*Symptoms may be transient or persistent
*Consider in trauma pt who has neurologic deficits despite normal head CT
*Consider in trauma patient who has neurologic deficits despite normal head CT
*Consider in pt w/ CVA + neck pain
*Consider in patient with CVA + [[neck pain]]
 
[[File:Carotid_dissection.jpg|thumb|CTA brain showing filling defect in the right carotid artery (circled)]]
 
===Anatomy===
*Vertebral artery comes off the subclavian and runs upward through the formina in the transverses processes of C6 to C2.


===Risk Factors===
===Risk Factors===
#Neck trauma (often minor)
*[[Neck trauma]] (often minor)
#Coughing
**Symptoms typically occur 2-3 days after event
#Connective tissue disease
*Cervical manipulation
#History of migraine
*Coughing
*[[Connective tissue disease]]
*History of [[migraine]]<ref>De Giuli V et al. Association Between Migraine and Cervical Artery Dissection: The Italian Project on Stroke in Young Adults. JAMA Neurol. Published online March 6, 2017. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.5704</ref>


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
===Internal Carotid Dissection===
===Internal Carotid Dissection===
*Unilateral HA, face pain, anterior neck pain
*Unilateral [[headache]], face pain, anterior [[neck pain]]
**Pain can precede other symptoms by hours-days (median 4d)
**Pain can precede other symptoms by hours-days (median 4d)
**HA most commonly is frontotemporal; severity may mimic SAH or preexisting migraine
**Headache most commonly is frontotemporal; severity may mimic SAH or preexisting migraine
*Partial Horner syndrome (miosis and ptosis)
*Partial [[Horner syndrome]] (miosis and ptosis) in 50% of cases
*CN palsies
*[[Cranial nerve palsies]]
 
===Vertebral Artery Dissection===
===Vertebral Artery Dissection===
*Posterior neck pain, HA
*Posterior [[neck pain]], [[headache]]
**May be unilateral or bilateral
**May be unilateral or bilateral
**HA is typically occipital
**Headache is typically occipital
*Unilateral facial paresthesia
*Unilateral facial [[paresthesia]]
*Dizziness
*[[Dizziness]]
*Vertigo
*[[Vertigo]]
*N/V
*[[Nausea/vomiting]]
*[[Diplopia]] and other visual disturbances
*[[Diplopia]] and other visual disturbances
*Ataxia
*[[Ataxia]]
*[[Lateral Medullary Syndrome]] seen in up to 20% of cases of VAD<ref>Lee MJ, Park YG, Kim SJ, Lee JJ, Bang OY, Kim JS. Characteristics of stroke mechanisms in patients with medullary infarction. Eur J Neurol. 2012;19(11):1433-1439.</ref><ref>Kim JS. Pure lateral medullary infarction: clinical-radiological correlation of 130 acute, consecutive patients. Brain. 2003;126(Pt 8):1864-1872.</ref>


==Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis==
#CTA/MRA
{{Blunt neck trauma DDX}}
#Angiography
##Gold standard
##Consider if diagnosis still strongly suspected despite negative CTA/MRA


==Treatment<ref>Zinkstok SM, Vergouwen MD, Engelter ST, et al. Safety and functional outcome of thrombolysis in dissection-related ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis of individual patient data. Stroke. 2011;42:2515–2520.</ref>==
==Evaluation==
*tPA
*Denver screening criteria is one way to evaluate for blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI)
**Do not give if dissection enters the skull
*If positive findings on screening → obtain CTA or MRA (CTA has been shown to be equivalent to MRA)
**Do not give if aorta is involved
 
**Otherwise, give according to same guidelines as for ischemic CVA (see [[CVA (tPA)]])
{{Denver Screening Criteria}}
*Antiplatelet/Anticoagulation Therapy
 
**If tPA was given, wait 24hr before starting antiplatelet therapy
[[File:BCVI-Algorithm.png|thumb|Algorithm for evaluation of BCVI with high risk criteria based on Memphis and Denver Screening Criteria]]
**Do not give if NIHSS score ≥ 15 (risk of hemorrhagic transformation)
 
**Otherwise, give ASA or warfarin (have similar outcomes)
==Management==
*Endovascular Therapy
*'''[[Anticoagulation]] (prevents clot propagation along dissecting lumen) followed by vascular repair is the generally accepted treatment.'''<ref>Zinkstok SM, Vergouwen MD, Engelter ST, et al. Safety and functional outcome of thrombolysis in dissection-related ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis of individual patient data. Stroke. 2011;42:2515–2520.</ref>
**Option for pts who have contraindication to lytic therapy
*Obtain emergent vascular surgery consult for possible endovascular intervention
**tPA use does not exclude pts from endovascular therapy
 
===[[tPA]]===
*Do not give if dissection enters the skull (ie Intracranial)
*Do not give if aorta is involved
*Otherwise, give according to same guidelines as for ischemic CVA (see [[CVA (tPA)]])
 
===[[Antiplatelet]] vs [[Anticoagulation]] Therapy===
''Very controversial with poor data''
*[[Heparin]]: If dissection causes neuro deficits and is EXTRACRANIAL
*[[Aspirin]]: If dissection is INTRACRANIAL
*Aspirin: If dissection is extracranial but no neuro deficit, for prevention of thromboembolic event
*If tPA was given, wait 24hr before starting antiplatelet therapy
*Do not give if NIHSS score ≥ 15 (risk of hemorrhagic transformation)


==Complications==
==Complications==
*CVA  
*[[CVA]]
*Risk of stroke or recurrent stroke is highest in the first 24hr after dissection
**Risk of stroke or recurrent stroke is highest in the first 24hr after dissection
*[[SAH]] (if dissection extends intracranially)


*SAH (if dissection extends intracranially)
==See Also==
*[[Blunt neck trauma]]


==Sources==
==References==
*Patel RR, Adam R, et al. Cervical carotid artery dissection: current review of diagnosis and treatment Cardiology in Review. 2012 May-Jun; 20(3):145-52.
*Debette S, Leys D. Cervical-artery dissections: predisposing factors, diagnosis, and outcomes. Lancet Neurol 2009; 8:668.
*Engelter, ST, Brandt, T, et al. Antiplatelets versus anticoagulation in cervical artery dissection. Stroke. 2007;38:2605-2611
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:Neuro]]
 
[[Category:Neurology]]
[[Category:Vascular]]

Revision as of 17:02, 3 October 2019

Background

  • Primarily categorized as Spontaneous vs. Traumatic
  • Most frequent cause of CVA in young and middle-aged patients (median age - 40yrs)
  • Symptoms may be transient or persistent
  • Consider in trauma patient who has neurologic deficits despite normal head CT
  • Consider in patient with CVA + neck pain
CTA brain showing filling defect in the right carotid artery (circled)

Anatomy

  • Vertebral artery comes off the subclavian and runs upward through the formina in the transverses processes of C6 to C2.

Risk Factors

Clinical Features

Internal Carotid Dissection

  • Unilateral headache, face pain, anterior neck pain
    • Pain can precede other symptoms by hours-days (median 4d)
    • Headache most commonly is frontotemporal; severity may mimic SAH or preexisting migraine
  • Partial Horner syndrome (miosis and ptosis) in 50% of cases
  • Cranial nerve palsies

Vertebral Artery Dissection

Differential Diagnosis

Neck Trauma

Evaluation

  • Denver screening criteria is one way to evaluate for blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI)
  • If positive findings on screening → obtain CTA or MRA (CTA has been shown to be equivalent to MRA)

Denver screening criteria for blunt cerebrovascular injury

The Denver Screening Criteria are divided into risk factors and signs and symptoms

Signs and Symptoms

  • Arterial hemorrhage
  • Cervical bruit
  • Expanding neck hematoma
  • Focal neurologic deficit
  • Neuro exam inconsistent with head CT
  • Stroke on head CT

Risk Factors

  • Midface Fractures (Le Fort II or III)
  • Basilar Skull Fracture with carotid canal involvement
  • Diffuse axonal injury with GCS<6
  • Cervical spine fracture
  • Hanging with anoxic brain injury
  • Seat belt abrasion or other soft tissue injury of the anterior neck resulting in significant swelling or altered mental status
    • Isolated seatbelt sign without other neurologic symptoms has not been identified as a risk factor[4][5][6]
Algorithm for evaluation of BCVI with high risk criteria based on Memphis and Denver Screening Criteria

Management

  • Anticoagulation (prevents clot propagation along dissecting lumen) followed by vascular repair is the generally accepted treatment.[7]
  • Obtain emergent vascular surgery consult for possible endovascular intervention

tPA

  • Do not give if dissection enters the skull (ie Intracranial)
  • Do not give if aorta is involved
  • Otherwise, give according to same guidelines as for ischemic CVA (see CVA (tPA))

Antiplatelet vs Anticoagulation Therapy

Very controversial with poor data

  • Heparin: If dissection causes neuro deficits and is EXTRACRANIAL
  • Aspirin: If dissection is INTRACRANIAL
  • Aspirin: If dissection is extracranial but no neuro deficit, for prevention of thromboembolic event
  • If tPA was given, wait 24hr before starting antiplatelet therapy
  • Do not give if NIHSS score ≥ 15 (risk of hemorrhagic transformation)

Complications

  • CVA
    • Risk of stroke or recurrent stroke is highest in the first 24hr after dissection
  • SAH (if dissection extends intracranially)

See Also

References

  1. ↑ De Giuli V et al. Association Between Migraine and Cervical Artery Dissection: The Italian Project on Stroke in Young Adults. JAMA Neurol. Published online March 6, 2017. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.5704
  2. ↑ Lee MJ, Park YG, Kim SJ, Lee JJ, Bang OY, Kim JS. Characteristics of stroke mechanisms in patients with medullary infarction. Eur J Neurol. 2012;19(11):1433-1439.
  3. ↑ Kim JS. Pure lateral medullary infarction: clinical-radiological correlation of 130 acute, consecutive patients. Brain. 2003;126(Pt 8):1864-1872.
  4. ↑ DiPerna CA, Rowe VL, Terramani TT, et al. Clinical importance of the “seat belt sign” in blunt trauma to the neck. Am Surg. 2002;68:441–445
  5. ↑ Rozycki GS, Tremblay L, Feliciano DV, et al. A prospective study for the detection of vascular injury in adult and pediatric patients with cervicothoracic seat belt signs. J Trauma. 2002;52:618–623; discussion 623–624
  6. ↑ Sherbaf FG, Chen B, Pomeranz T, et al. Value of emergent neurovascular imaging for “Seat belt injury”: A multi-institutional study. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 2021;42(4):743-748
  7. ↑ Zinkstok SM, Vergouwen MD, Engelter ST, et al. Safety and functional outcome of thrombolysis in dissection-related ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis of individual patient data. Stroke. 2011;42:2515–2520.
Retrieved from "https://www.wikem.org/w/index.php?title=Vertebral_and_carotid_artery_dissection&oldid=231846"