BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuVertebrobasilar circulatory disordersVertebrobasilar insufficiency; Posterior circulation ischemia; Beauty parlor syndrome; TIA - vertebrobasilar insufficiency; Dizziness - vertebrobasilar insufficiency; Vertigo - vertebrobasilar insufficiencyVertebrobasilar circulatory disorders are conditions in which the blood supply to the back of the brain is disrupted. Causes In the neck, two vertebral arteries join to form the basilar artery, which enters the skull. These are the main blood vessels that provide blood flow to the back of the brain. The areas in the back of the brain that receive blood from these arteries are needed to keep a person alive. These areas regulate breathing, heart rate, swallowing, vision, movement, and posture or balance. All of the nervous system signals that connect the brain to the rest of the body pass through the back of the brain.Many different conditions may reduce or stop blood flow in the back part of the brain. The most common risk factors are smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, increased age, and a high cholesterol level. These are similar to the risk factors for any stroke.DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risk factors for any strokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain suddenly stops. A stroke is sometimes called a brain attack or cerebrovascular accident (CVA)...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other causes include:Tear in the wall of an artery Blood clots in the heart that travel to the vertebral or basilar arteries and cause a stroke Blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) Connective tissue diseases Problems in the spinal bones of the neck Outside pressure on the vertebral or basilar arteries, such as from a salon sink (nicknamed beauty parlor syndrome) Symptoms Common symptoms may include:Difficulty pronouncing words, slurred speech Slurred speechDysarthria is a condition in which you have difficulty saying words because of problems with the muscles that help you talk.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Difficulty swallowing Difficulty swallowingDifficulty with swallowing is the feeling that food or liquid is stuck in the throat or at any point before the food enters the stomach. This proble...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Double vision or vision loss Numbness or tingling, most often on the face or scalp Numbness or tinglingNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sudden falls (drop attacks) Vertigo (sensation of things spinning around) Vertigo Vertigo is a sensation of motion or spinning that is often described as dizziness. Vertigo is not the same as being lightheaded. People with vertig...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Memory loss Other symptoms may include: Bladder or bowel control problems Difficulty walking (unsteady gait) Headache, neck ache HeadacheA headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hearing loss Hearing lossHearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle weakness Nausea and vomiting Pain in one or more parts of the body, which gets worse with touch and cold temperatures Poor coordination Poor coordinationUncoordinated movement is due to a muscle control problem that causes an inability to coordinate movements. It leads to a jerky, unsteady, to-and-fr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sleepiness or sleep from which the person cannot be awakened Sudden, uncoordinated movements Sweating on the face, arms, or legs Exams and Tests You may have the following tests, depending on the cause:CT or MRI of the brain CTA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), or ultrasound to look at blood vessels in the brain Magnetic resonance angiographyMagnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is an MRI exam of the blood vessels. Unlike traditional angiography that involves placing a tube (catheter) int...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article UltrasoundUltrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests, including blood clotting studies Echocardiogram EchocardiogramAn echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter monitor (24-hour ECG) ElectrocardiogramAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Holter monitorA Holter monitor is a machine that continuously records the heart's rhythms. The monitor is worn for 24 to 48 hours during normal activity.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article X-rays of the arteries (angiogram) AngiogramAn arteriogram is an imaging test that uses x-rays and a special dye to see inside the arteries. It can be used to view arteries in the heart, brain...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Vertebral or basilar symptoms that start suddenly are a medical emergency that need to be treated right away. Treatment is similar to that for stroke. Depending on how long you have had symptoms among others, a medicine may be infused to break open any blood clots. A catheter may be inserted into a blood vessel to remove a clot. Some people receive both treatments.StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article To prevent the condition, your health care provider may recommend:PreventA stroke occurs when the blood flow is cut off to any part of the brain. The loss of blood flow can be caused by a blood clot in an artery of the br...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Taking blood-thinning medicines, such as aspirin, novel oral anticoagulants (such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, or others) or clopidogrel (Plavix) to lower the risk for stroke Changing your diet Medicine to lower cholesterol and better regulate blood pressure Exercising Losing weight Stopping smokingStopping smokingThere are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Invasive procedures or surgery of narrowed arteries for stroke prevention in this part of the brain are not well studied or proven. Outlook (Prognosis) The outlook depends on:The amount of brain damage What body functions have been affected How quickly you get treatment How quickly you recover Each person has a different recovery time and need for long-term care. Problems with moving, thinking, and talking often improve in the first weeks or months. Some people will keep improving for months or years. Possible Complications Complications of vertebrobasilar circulatory disorders are the same as for a stroke. These include:Breathing (respiratory) failure (which may require the use of a machine to help the person breathe) Lung problems (especially lung infections) Heart attack Lack of fluids in the body (dehydration) and swallowing problems (sometimes requiring tube feeding) Problems with movement or sensation, including paralysis and numbness Formation of blood clots in the legs Vision loss Complications caused by medicines or surgery may also occur. When to Contact a Medical Professional Call 911 or the local emergency number, or get to the emergency room if you have any symptoms of a vertebral or basilar circulatory disorder.Open ReferencesReferencesCrane BT, Kaylie DM. Central vestibular disorders. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 168.Jovin TG, Li C, Wu L, et al. Trial of thrombectomy 6 to 24 Hours after stroke due to basilar-artery occlusion. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(15):1373-1384. PMID: 36239645 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36239645/.Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al. 2021 Guideline for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2021;52(7):e364-e467. PMID: 34024117 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34024117/.Kim JS, Caplan LR. Vertebrobasilar disease. In: Grotta JC, Albers GW, Broderick JP, et al, eds. Stroke: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 26.AllVideoImagesTogArteries of the brain - illustration The internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries supply blood to the brain.Arteries of the brainillustrationArteries of the brain - illustration The internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries supply blood to the brain.Arteries of the brainillustrationRelated Information Stroke(Condition)Atherosclerosis(Condition)Stroke - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 8/19/2024 Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Vertebrobasilar circulatory disordersVertebrobasilar insufficiency; Posterior circulation ischemia; Beauty parlor syndrome; TIA - vertebrobasilar insufficiency; Dizziness - vertebrobasilar insufficiency; Vertigo - vertebrobasilar insufficiencyVertebrobasilar circulatory disorders are conditions in which the blood supply to the back of the brain is disrupted. Causes In the neck, two vertebral arteries join to form the basilar artery, which enters the skull. These are the main blood vessels that provide blood flow to the back of the brain. The areas in the back of the brain that receive blood from these arteries are needed to keep a person alive. These areas regulate breathing, heart rate, swallowing, vision, movement, and posture or balance. All of the nervous system signals that connect the brain to the rest of the body pass through the back of the brain.Many different conditions may reduce or stop blood flow in the back part of the brain. The most common risk factors are smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, increased age, and a high cholesterol level. These are similar to the risk factors for any stroke.DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risk factors for any strokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain suddenly stops. A stroke is sometimes called a brain attack or cerebrovascular accident (CVA)...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other causes include:Tear in the wall of an artery Blood clots in the heart that travel to the vertebral or basilar arteries and cause a stroke Blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) Connective tissue diseases Problems in the spinal bones of the neck Outside pressure on the vertebral or basilar arteries, such as from a salon sink (nicknamed beauty parlor syndrome) Symptoms Common symptoms may include:Difficulty pronouncing words, slurred speech Slurred speechDysarthria is a condition in which you have difficulty saying words because of problems with the muscles that help you talk.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Difficulty swallowing Difficulty swallowingDifficulty with swallowing is the feeling that food or liquid is stuck in the throat or at any point before the food enters the stomach. This proble...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Double vision or vision loss Numbness or tingling, most often on the face or scalp Numbness or tinglingNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sudden falls (drop attacks) Vertigo (sensation of things spinning around) Vertigo Vertigo is a sensation of motion or spinning that is often described as dizziness. Vertigo is not the same as being lightheaded. People with vertig...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Memory loss Other symptoms may include: Bladder or bowel control problems Difficulty walking (unsteady gait) Headache, neck ache HeadacheA headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hearing loss Hearing lossHearing loss is being partly or totally unable to hear sound in one or both ears.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle weakness Nausea and vomiting Pain in one or more parts of the body, which gets worse with touch and cold temperatures Poor coordination Poor coordinationUncoordinated movement is due to a muscle control problem that causes an inability to coordinate movements. It leads to a jerky, unsteady, to-and-fr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sleepiness or sleep from which the person cannot be awakened Sudden, uncoordinated movements Sweating on the face, arms, or legs Exams and Tests You may have the following tests, depending on the cause:CT or MRI of the brain CTA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), or ultrasound to look at blood vessels in the brain Magnetic resonance angiographyMagnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is an MRI exam of the blood vessels. Unlike traditional angiography that involves placing a tube (catheter) int...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article UltrasoundUltrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests, including blood clotting studies Echocardiogram EchocardiogramAn echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a s...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter monitor (24-hour ECG) ElectrocardiogramAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Holter monitorA Holter monitor is a machine that continuously records the heart's rhythms. The monitor is worn for 24 to 48 hours during normal activity.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article X-rays of the arteries (angiogram) AngiogramAn arteriogram is an imaging test that uses x-rays and a special dye to see inside the arteries. It can be used to view arteries in the heart, brain...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Vertebral or basilar symptoms that start suddenly are a medical emergency that need to be treated right away. Treatment is similar to that for stroke. Depending on how long you have had symptoms among others, a medicine may be infused to break open any blood clots. A catheter may be inserted into a blood vessel to remove a clot. Some people receive both treatments.StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article To prevent the condition, your health care provider may recommend:PreventA stroke occurs when the blood flow is cut off to any part of the brain. The loss of blood flow can be caused by a blood clot in an artery of the br...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Taking blood-thinning medicines, such as aspirin, novel oral anticoagulants (such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, or others) or clopidogrel (Plavix) to lower the risk for stroke Changing your diet Medicine to lower cholesterol and better regulate blood pressure Exercising Losing weight Stopping smokingStopping smokingThere are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Invasive procedures or surgery of narrowed arteries for stroke prevention in this part of the brain are not well studied or proven. Outlook (Prognosis) The outlook depends on:The amount of brain damage What body functions have been affected How quickly you get treatment How quickly you recover Each person has a different recovery time and need for long-term care. Problems with moving, thinking, and talking often improve in the first weeks or months. Some people will keep improving for months or years. Possible Complications Complications of vertebrobasilar circulatory disorders are the same as for a stroke. These include:Breathing (respiratory) failure (which may require the use of a machine to help the person breathe) Lung problems (especially lung infections) Heart attack Lack of fluids in the body (dehydration) and swallowing problems (sometimes requiring tube feeding) Problems with movement or sensation, including paralysis and numbness Formation of blood clots in the legs Vision loss Complications caused by medicines or surgery may also occur. When to Contact a Medical Professional Call 911 or the local emergency number, or get to the emergency room if you have any symptoms of a vertebral or basilar circulatory disorder.Open ReferencesReferencesCrane BT, Kaylie DM. Central vestibular disorders. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 168.Jovin TG, Li C, Wu L, et al. Trial of thrombectomy 6 to 24 Hours after stroke due to basilar-artery occlusion. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(15):1373-1384. PMID: 36239645 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36239645/.Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al. 2021 Guideline for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2021;52(7):e364-e467. PMID: 34024117 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34024117/.Kim JS, Caplan LR. Vertebrobasilar disease. In: Grotta JC, Albers GW, Broderick JP, et al, eds. Stroke: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 26.
