The potential of duplex scanning in the diagnosis of pathological tortuosity of the vertebral artery

Aim. To assess the capabilities of duplex scanning and study the features of hemodynamics in the vertebral arteries before and after surgical treatment.
Material and methods. The results of anatomical and circulatory characteristics of an extracranial segment of the vertebral arteries in 52 patients with various forms of pathological tortuosity were analyzed. Kinking was present in 38 patients, coiling in 8 patients, and Powers anomaly in 6 patients. There were 18 men and 34 women. The mean age of the patients was 45.6±8.7 years.
Results and discussion. In all types of PT of VA with ostium stenosis, the diameter of the artery was decreased, and based on tortuosity it contributed both to the reduction and deterioration of arterial blood flow to the vertebrobasilar basin. The decrease or increase in the linear velocity of blood flow, as well as other blood flow parameters, depended on both the type of pathological tortuosity of the PA and on the vessel diameter and the value of angulation. Hypoplasia of the opposite vertebral artery also occurred in 28 patients, which resulted in impaired blood supply to the brain.
Vascular examination after reconstructive surgeries resulted in normalization of the parameters of arterial circulation and cerebral perfusion. Primary vascular patency was 96.2%, restenosis was not revealed in any observation.
Conclusion. Duplex scanning is a highly informative technique for both diagnosing pathological deformities of the vertebral arteries and assessing the restoration of the hemodynamics of the vertebrobasilar system after reconstructive surgery. This method provides the most accurate information on the anatomical form and localization of pathological deformities of the vertebral artery. It also allows quantitative assessment of cerebral blood flow.

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