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Extended infarcts in the vertebrobasilar territory
1Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. p_santalucia@hotmail.com
Frontiers of Neurology and Neuroscience
|March 2, 2012
Summary
Posterior circulation strokes, including basilar artery occlusion (BAO), are severe and often have poor prognoses. Optimal management strategies for these extensive vertebrobasilar (VB) infarcts remain unclear and require further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Neurology
Background:
- Posterior circulation stroke constitutes approximately 20% of all ischemic strokes.
- Infarcts within the vertebrobasilar (VB) region can be multifocal and present with diverse clinical syndromes, often leading to unpredictable and unfavorable prognoses with high mortality rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss extended infarcts in the vertebrobasilar territory.
- To address the complexities of vertebrobasilar involvement and basilar artery occlusion (BAO).
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and clinical data on posterior circulation strokes.
- Analysis of syndromic presentations and outcomes of VB infarcts.
Main Results:
- Basilar artery occlusion (BAO) represents the most severe form of posterior circulation infarct.
- Management of BAO is not standardized due to a lack of randomized controlled trials.
Conclusions:
- Extended VB infarcts and BAO pose significant clinical challenges.
- Further research is needed to clarify optimal management approaches for these critical cerebrovascular events.
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