Experts call extravasal compression of vertebral arteries a pathology leading to circulatory disorders in the brain and an increase in vascular tone.
The brain structures are supplied with blood through the two main channels. A pair of carotid arteries is assigned to the carotid canal, and a pair of vertebrates to the vertebrobasilar channel. When exposed to a combination of factors, blood circulation in one or several arteries can be disturbed. As a result, the brain suffers from a lack of oxygen, a deficiency of macro- and micronutrients, nutrients. In such cases, the patient develops a complex of functional disorders of the vascular system and the heart, requiring medical intervention and detection of the main causes of extravasal compression of the vertebral artery.
Functional activity of the vertebral arteries
Blood supply to the posterior parts of the brain occurs through two arteries of the left and right vertebral, leaving the vertebrobasilar basin. These arteries provide about 30% of the total blood volume to the brain. The rest of the blood supply is through the carotid arteries.
If a person turns or tilts his head, a change in blood flow occurs. In one vertebral artery, it slows down. If the activity of blood vessels is not disturbed, then a person does not notice and does not feel such changes in blood flow. If there are vascular pathologies, then the patient has a headache, which has a sharp character, dizziness. Most often, such manifestations are noted with tilts and turns of the neck.
Vertebral artery syndrome
Decreased blood flow in the artery leads to the development of vertebral artery syndrome. It is a circulatory disorder in the brain provoked by diseases or pathology of the blood channels that feed it.
Causes of circulatory disorders in the vertebral arteries
Pathology can be congenital and acquired. Congenital disorders include pathological tortuosity and arterial excesses.
The following pathologies can lead to extravasal compression of the vertebral artery:
- intervertebral hernia;
- tumors in the neck;
- injuries affecting the spine;
- thrombosis;
- scoliosis;
- osteochondrosis;
- embolism;
- atherosclerosis.
As a rule, pathology develops under the influence of a combination of causes. For example, the lack of therapy for atherosclerosis leads to the formation of blood clots. Against this background, the development of vertebral artery syndrome.
Symptomatology
The disease can affect all people, regardless of their age and race. In a child, extravasal compression of the vertebral artery is most often congenital. And in adults, SPA develops under the influence of existing pathologies. Most people over 50 are exposed to SPA.
It is worth noting that the signs of extravasal compression of the vertebral arteries in patients of adult and childhood are the same.
Specialists distinguish three types of pathology:
- Damage to the vertebral artery located on the left.
- Damage to the vertebral artery located on the right.
- Damage to both vessels (bilateral compression).
Symptoms of extravasal compression of the vertebral artery located on the right, except as the location, does not differ from the symptoms of damage to the artery located on the left.
Among the main signs of pathology are the following:
- Decreased visual acuity, rapid and excessive fatigue of the visual organs, lacrimation.
- Loss of consciousness with sudden and sharp turns of the neck.
- Feeling of instability.
- Staggering.
- Vomiting, nausea.
- Dizziness.
- Long-lasting headaches that are not eliminated by the use of pain medication.
Bilateral defeat
Visual disturbances are observed with bilateral damage to the arteries. Headache is most often noted in the occipital-cervical part, in some cases it irrigates to the forehead. The pain intensifies after waking up, especially if the person was sleeping in an uncomfortable position or on a bad pillow. It can occur after traveling on bad roads, in public transport, when there is a sharp acceleration and braking.
How are signs of extravasal compression of both vertebral arteries detected?
SPA Diagnostics
It is possible to suspect the presence of extravasal compression of the vertebral arteries, based on the patient's complaints, however, to confirm the alleged diagnosis, a full examination will be required, including:
- Angiography with a contrast agent. During the procedure, the specialist receives a three-dimensional image that well reflects the location of the vessel pathology.
- MRI of the cervical area. This diagnostic study allows you to detect modifications in the spinal column, vertebrae.
- MRI of the brain of the head. It allows you to detect the place in which the artery is compressed.
- Doppler study. It allows you to detect difficulties and changes in blood flow in the vertebral arteries.
- X-ray examination of the cervical region. Allows you to detect pathologies of the atlanto-occipital joint that can provoke the development of SPA.
It is also worth noting that upon admission to inpatient therapy, blood samples are taken from a patient for a complete biochemical and clinical examination, as well as a urine sample for a general laboratory study. These analyzes will detect additional pathologies, if any.
Therapy Tips
With the advanced stages of extravasal compression of the vertebral artery, surgery is the best method of therapy. However, after the operation, additional physiotherapeutic procedures will be required that can accelerate the recovery of the body after surgical treatment.
Among the additional recovery measures, experts distinguish sanatorium-resort treatment, acupuncture, massage, physiotherapy exercises.
First of all, if extravasal compression of the right vertebral artery or the left artery is detected, the specialist will try to determine the root cause of the development of the pathological condition and eliminate it.
Conservative therapy with medications involves primarily a reduction in the inflammatory process. In addition, it is important to understand that stagnation can occur at the site of compression of the artery. Doctors recommend the use of drugs to restore hemodynamics that have been impaired: Instenon, Cinnarizine, Pentoxifyline, Celecoxib, Diosmin.
Due to the development of SPA in the patient, metabolic processes in the structures of the brain are disturbed. In order to eliminate them, it is recommended to use: Neurox, Actovegin, Cereton, Meldonium, Riboxin. These drugs can improve blood circulation in the brain stem, balance redox processes. As a result of their use, the brain acquires resistance to hypoxic phenomena. It is also important to remember about muscle relaxants, anti-migraine drugs, antispasmodics, vitamins, and symptomatic therapy.
It should be borne in mind that treatment with drugs allows you to get only temporary relief, improve your overall health by only 30%. The only way to completely eliminate the pathology is surgery.
Extravasal compression of both vertebral arteries can lead to the development of a severe pain syndrome.
In such cases, the specialist makes novocaine blockade (if the patient does not have hypersensitivity to this medication).
With osteochondrosis
Often, patients are interested in whether it is possible to completely get rid of SPA in osteochondrosis. After surgery, the patient is recommended to be registered in the dispensary and fully follow the recommendations of a specialist. In this case, the chance that the disease will return is very small. In addition, you should remember the need for regular treatment of osteochondrosis, exercise, diet.
What is the danger of extravasal compression of the left vertebral artery or the right?
Complications
In the absence of surgical therapy, the refusal to use medications, an ailment can trigger the development of serious consequences. Among them:
- impaired coordination;
- hypertension;
- severe vision loss;
- migraine;
- photophobia;
- panic attacks;
- stroke.
Quite often, the lack of therapy is fatal.
Preventive measures aimed at preventing the development of pathology
If the patient is not in the dispensary, he should undergo a medical examination annually. It is also necessary to treat pathological conditions that can lead to the development of SPA in time, do not forget to engage in sports, physical therapy, aimed at removing the tone and strengthening the muscle corset. If there is such an opportunity, then it is worth periodically attending ShVZ massage sessions.
Do not ignore preventive measures after surgery. They will prevent recurrence of pathology, improve the general condition.
It is also worth normalizing your own diet. It should be balanced and correct, since it plays a big role in the prevention of almost all pathologies. A patient suffering from this disease should adhere to any diet designed to combat the pathologies of CVS.
Reviews on extravasal compression of the vertebral artery
Patients note that timely access to a specialist and full compliance with his recommendations allows you to quickly normalize the condition and eliminate the symptoms of the disease. Equally important is the correct lifestyle, nutrition, sports, giving up bad habits. Only timely therapy under the supervision of an experienced doctor will allow you to live a full life.