Pure agraphia following periendarterectomy stroke

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove plaque from carotid arteries.
• Perioperative stroke is a potential complication following vascular surgery.
• Agraphia is a neurological disorder characterized by the loss of the ability to write.

Observation:

• A patient presented with severe writing difficulties, including illegible and slow handwriting and impaired copying.
• The patient maintained normal oral spelling abilities.
• No limb apraxia was observed.

Findings:

• The patient's pure agraphia was attributed to a perioperative stroke.
• CT brain imaging identified two hypodense areas in the left centrum semi-ovale, suggesting ischemic lesions.
• The specific location of the stroke correlated with the observed writing deficits.

Implications:

• This case highlights the potential for focal neurological deficits, such as pure agraphia, after carotid endarterectomy.
• Understanding the neuroanatomical basis of agraphia is crucial for diagnosis and rehabilitation.
• Further research may elucidate the precise pathways affected by strokes in this region.