Clinical Effect of Surgical Reconstruction of Extracranial Vertebral Artery / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To evaluate the effect of surgical reconstruction of extracranial vertebral artery and to summarize the experience. Methods The clinical data of 15 patients undergoing surgical reconstruction of extracranial vertebral artery from September 2018 to June 2022 were collected.The operation methods,operation duration,intraoperative blood loss,operation complications,and relief of symptoms were retrospectively analyzed. Results Eleven patients underwent vertebral artery (V1 segment) to common carotid artery transposition,two patients underwent endarterectomy of V1 segment,two patients underwent V3 segment to external carotid artery bypass or transposition.The operation duration,intraoperative blood loss,and blocking time of common carotid artery varied within 120-340 min,50-300 ml,and 12-25 min,with the medians of 240 min,100 ml,and 16 min,respectively.There was no cardiac accident,cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome,cerebral hemorrhage or lymphatic leakage during the perioperative period.One patient suffered from cerebral infarction and three patients suffered from incomplete Horner's syndrome after the operation.During the follow-up (4-45 months,median of 26 months),there was no anastomotic stenosis,new cerebral infarction or cerebral ischemia. Conclusion Surgical reconstruction of extracranial vertebral artery is safe and effective,and individualized reconstruction strategy should be adopted according to different conditions.

Modified vertebral-carotid transposition treating stenosis at V1 segment of vertebral artery / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To investigate the treatment of modified vertebral-carotid transposition (VCT) in patients with severe stenosis or occlusion at V1 segment of vertebral artery. Methods    A retrospective study of 13 patients with severe stenosis or occlusion at V1 segment of vertebral artery treated by modified VCT in our hospital from October 2016 to December 2018 was done. There were 10 males and 3 females with an average age of 70.5±7.1 years. Results    The operation was successful in this series of patients. The follow-up duration was 1-3 years. The stenosis degree of the V1 segment of the vertebral artery decreased from 86.8%±7.5% to 17.4%±14.5%. All patients achieved remission of symptoms after the surgery. Temporary peripheral nerve injury occurred in 6 patients. Four patients with neurological complications relieved during follow-up. The patency rate was 100.0% at postoperative 1 and 3 years. There was no perioperative death, stroke or re-intervention. Conclusion    Modified VCT can precisely restore the distal blood flow of patients with severe stenosis or occlusion at V1 segment of vertebral artery, and relieve their symptoms.

Vertebral artery occlusion with lateral medullary syndrome and cervical cord infarct

@#Wallenberg syndrome (lateral medullary syndrome) is a type of posterior circulation stroke resulting in brainstem infarction which is most often caused by occlusion of vertebral artery or posterior inferior cerebellar artery or both.1 Here we report a case of right lateral medullary syndrome secondary to vertebral artery occlusion with associated left cerebellar and cervical cord infarct resulting in quadriparesis.

Types of vertebral artery occlusion and their compensatory hemodynamic changes influence to posterior circulation ischemia / 中国脑血管病杂志

Objective To evaluate the correlation between the types of vertebral artery occlusion and their compensatory hemodynamic changes and posterior circulation ischemia using color Doppler flow imaging combined with transcranial color-coded sonography.Methods From June 2015 to June 2016,A total of 108 patients with vertebral artery occlusion confirmed by vascular sonography,digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or CT angiography (CTA) were enrolled retrospectively.According to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) findings,they were divided into posterior circulation infarction (n=78 in infarction group) and non-posterior circulation infarction (n=30 in TIA group).Color Doppler flow imaging and transcranial color Doppler ultrasonography were used to examine the contralateral vertebral artery extracranial diameter, peak systolic velocity(PSV) and end diastolic velocity(EDV) of bilateral extracranial and intracranial vertebral arteries.The differences of the vertebral artery occlusion types,establishment of collateral circulation and hemodynamic changes of the contralateral vertebral artery were compared between the two groups.Results The patients with single vertebral artery occlusion in the infarction group and TIA group were 69 (88.5%) and 26 (86.7%) respectively;those with bilateral vertebral artery occlusion were 9 (11.5%) and 4 (13.3%) respectively.There was no significant difference in the number of vertebral artery occlusion between the two groups (χ2=0.000,P=1.000).The proportion of patients with vertebral artery occlusion in intracranial segment in the infarction group was higher than that in the TIA group (70.5% [55/78] vs.36.7% (11/30);χ2=10.444,P=0.001).The proportion of patients with the establishment of collateral circulation in the infarction group was lower than that in the TIA group (14.1% [11/78] vs.43.3% (13/30);χ2=10.711,P=0.001).The peak systolic velocity (PSV) and the end diastolic velocity (EDV) of contralateral extracranial vertebral artery in patients with single vertebral artery occlusion in the TIA group were higher than those in the infarction group (65±21 cm/s vs.57±15 cm/s,25±8 cm/s vs.20±7 cm/s,t=2.043 and 2.606 respectively,all P<0.05).Conclusion The establishment of collateral circulation and hemodynamic compensation of the contralateral vertebral artery after vertebral artery occlusion were closely associated with the occurrence of posterior circulation ischemia.

Atlantoaxial Stabilization Using C1 and C2 Laminar Screw Fixation

We describe the use of a C1 laminar screw in combination with a C2 laminar screw as a salvage technique to treat two patients, one with persistent first intersegmental artery and the other with vertebral artery occlusion after cervical spine fracture. The combined use of C1 and C2 laminar screws allows for good fixation of the atlantoaxial joint with a lower risk of vertebral artery injury; therefore, it can be an alternative surgical procedure for patients with congenital or traumatic anomalous vertebral artery.

Preliminary Experience with Vascular Plugs for Parent Artery Occlusion of the Carotid or Vertebral Arteries

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to report the authors' preliminary experience using the Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP) (St. Jude Medical, Plymouth, MN, USA) for parent artery occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) or vertebral artery (VA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2008 and December 2015, we performed 52 therapeutic parent artery occlusions (PAOs) by an endovascular technique. Among them, 10 patients underwent PAO of the carotid or vertebral arteries using AVPs. Clinical and radiographic data of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The devices were used for VA dissection that presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in five patients, traumatic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in two patients, spontaneous AVF in one patient, recurrence of carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) in one patient, and symptomatic unruptured giant ICA aneurysm in one patient. The devices were used in conjunction with detachable and/or pushable coils and in the extracranial segments of the ICA or VA. Complete occlusion of the parent artery was achieved in all patients. There was one intra-procedural rupture of the VA dissection during coiling prior to using the device. CONCLUSION: Results from the current series suggest that the AVP might be used for therapeutic PAO in the extracranial segments of the ICA or VA.

Atypical Anterior Spinal Artery Infarction due to Left Vertebral Artery Occlusion Presenting with Bilateral Hand Weakness

BACKGROUND: Infarct of the anterior spinal artery is the most common subtype of spinal cord infarct, and is characterized by bilateral motor deficits with spinothalamic sensory deficits. We experienced a case with atypical anterior-spinal-artery infarct that presented with bilateral hand weakness but without sensory deficits. CASE REPORT: A 29-year-old man presented with sudden neck pain and bilateral weakness of the hands. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain did not reveal any lesion. His motor symptoms improved rapidly except for mild weakness in his left wrist and fingers. Magnetic resonance angiography showed proximal occlusion of the left vertebral artery; a spine MRI revealed left cervical cord infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral or unilateral hand weakness can be the sole symptom of a cervical cord infarct.

A Case of Ipsilateral Hemiparesis in Lateral Medullary Infarction: As a Warning Sign of Acute Progression of Vertebral Artery Thrombosis / 대한뇌졸중학회지

A 70-year-old man presented with acute dysarthria and dizziness. He denied any history of trauma or cervical manipulations within several weeks before symptom onset. We could make a presumptive diagnosis of left Wallenberg syndrome through the results of neurologic examination, which include left limb ataxia, alternating hyp(o)esthesia, spontaneous nystagmus to right side, and left side Honer's syndrome. Initial diffusion weighted imaging performed at admission showed small and discrete high signal lesions in left lateral medulla, left cerebellar hemisphere, and bilateral occipital areas. Contrast enhanced MRA demonstrated a filling defect in long segment of distal left vertebral artery. On 4th days after symptom onset, the patient developed a severe form of ipsilateral hemiparesis. Follow-up brain MRI showed a downward extension of the initial ischemic lesion in upper medulla to upper cervical region. This case suggests that a severe form of ipsilateral hemiparesis may be complicated in the clinical setting of acute lateral medullary infarction with vertebral artery occlusion.

Occipital Artery to Distal Extracranial Vertebral Artery Bypass for Bilateral Proximal Vertebral Artery Occlusion: Case Report / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency can be caused by proximal vertebral artery (VA) occlusion. Performing endovascular recanalization for treating VA occlusion has high procedural risks, including vessel perforation. In contrast, surgical revascularization of the distal extracranial VA had been used for many decades to treat proximal VA occlusion or stenosis, and its safety and satisfactory long-term outcome are well established. We report here on a case of successful surgical revascularization by performing occipital artery to distal extracranial VA bypass for bilateral proximal VA occlusion and we discuss its potential role for the treatment of medical refractory recurrent ischemia in the vertebrobasilar territory