Updates about Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency in Dizziness

Lílian Felipe

doi:10.32474/sjo.2019.02.000126

Abstract

Highlights

The vertebrobasilar arterial system (VBS) supplies the vestibular and cochlear nuclei and is comprised of the vertebral artery (VA), basilar artery (BA), anterior-inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), and the posterior-inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) [1]
The reason why changes in the VBS have a greater effect on the vestibular system rather than affecting both cochlear and vestibular function is that the cochlear system received blood flow from the carotid artery which protects it from suffering the same impairments as the vestibular system which only received blood from the labyrinthine branches of the vertebrobasilar arteries [3]
Some patients were found to have abnormal function in the optokinetic pattern test, eye tracking, or visual suppression test in the videonystagmography (VNG) [1]. Another assessment conducted by the audiologist that may be useful in the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) when the ischemic is in the AICA displaying a substantial increase in interpeak latency between waves I-IV and II-IV [1]

Summary

Introduction

The vertebrobasilar arterial system (VBS) supplies the vestibular and cochlear nuclei and is comprised of the vertebral artery (VA), basilar artery (BA), anterior-inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), and the posterior-inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) [1]. Vertigo, nystagmus, imbalance, lightheadedness, headaches, mental confusion, aural fullness, tinnitus, hearing changes, nausea, vomiting, syncope, diplopia, blurred vision, blindness, ataxia, difficulty swallowing, dysarthria, pain and stiffness in neck or shoulder, and weakness of the extremities [1,2,3,4]. While it is possible for isolated and sudden attacks of vertigo to occur, vertigo alone is does not meet the diagnostic criteria for VBI [2,3].

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion