VERTEBROBASILAR

INSUFFICIENCY/SYNDROME

 Hitesh Rohit
(3rd year BPT)
Content :-

 Introduction
 Causes/Risk factors
 Clinical features
 Diagnosis
 Treatment
 Complications
Introduction:-

 The vertebrobasilar arterial system is located at the back of the brain

and includes the vertebral and basilar arteries.

 These arteries supplies blood,oxygen and nutrients to the vital parts

of the brain structures,such as brainstem, occipital lobe and
cerebellam.
Vertebrobasilar syndrome/Insufficiency:-

 When the blood flow in the arteries of vertebrobasilar system is

significantly reduced,the condition is known as vertebrobasilar
insufficiency/syndrome.
 There is reduction or stoppage of the blood supply to the back of the
brain.
 According to researches atherosclerosis is the commonest cause of
this disorder.
Causes/Risk factors:-

 Smoking
 Hypertension
 Diabetes
 Obesity
 Over the age of 50years
 Family history of disease
 Hyperlipidemia
 Atheroscoerosis and peripheral vascular disease
Clinical features:-

 Symptoms of this disorder depends upon the severity of the condition.Some symptoms may last
for a few minutes and some may become permanent.

 Common symptoms includes:-

 Loss Of vision in one or both eyes

 Double vision
 Dizziness or vertigo
 Numbness or tingling in the hand or feet
 Nausea and vomiting
 Slurred speech
 Change in mental status including confusion or loss of
consciousness.
 Sudden,severe weakness throughout the body which is called drop
attack.
 Loss of balance and coordination
 Difficulty in swallowing
Diagnosis:-

 MRI or CT scan
 Magnetic resonance angiography
 Blood test to evaluate clotting ability
 Echocardiogram(Live images of heart)
 Angiogram(X-ray of arteries followed by injecting dye)
 Spinal tap in rare cases
Treatment:-

 Conservative management:-

 Quitting smoking
 Weight losing in case of overweight and obese
 Change in the diet to control the cholesterol levels
 Becoming more active
 Medications:-
 To control blood pressure(ß-blockers i.e. Atenolol)
 To reduce cholesterol levels(statins i.e. Lovastatin)
 To reduce coagulation of blood(Anticoagulants i.e. Heparin & warfarin)
 Too make blood thin(Antiplatelet drugs i.e. Aspirin)
 To control diabetes (Insulin for type-1 and alpha glucosidase inhibitors
i.e.acarbose and miglitol for type-2)
Surgical management:-

 Bypass surgery

 Endarterectomy(removal of plaque from affected artery)

 Vertebral artery reconstruction

Complications:-

 Stroke
Reference:-

 Orthopaedics physical assessment by David J.Magee

Thank
you