Abstract 094: Sudden Onset Dysphagia: A Symptom To Be Aware of During Code Strokes

Introduction Lateral medullary infarction (LMI) can present with dysphagia, dysphonia, dysarthria, vertigo, nausea, skew deviation, and ipsipulsion. Patients may also exhibit sensory loss and ipsilateral Horner’s syndrome. LMS often develops because of an acute infarct from the vertebral arteries or...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aysha Abeer, Wilson Rodriguez, Nicholas Schaper, Yoan Ganev, Gunjanpreet Kaur, Adam Awad, Brian Miremadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-11-01
Series:Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology
Online Access:https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/SVIN.03.suppl_2.094
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849730612863172608
author Aysha Abeer
Wilson Rodriguez
Nicholas Schaper
Yoan Ganev
Gunjanpreet Kaur
Adam Awad
Brian Miremadi
author_facet Aysha Abeer
Wilson Rodriguez
Nicholas Schaper
Yoan Ganev
Gunjanpreet Kaur
Adam Awad
Brian Miremadi
author_sort Aysha Abeer
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Lateral medullary infarction (LMI) can present with dysphagia, dysphonia, dysarthria, vertigo, nausea, skew deviation, and ipsipulsion. Patients may also exhibit sensory loss and ipsilateral Horner’s syndrome. LMS often develops because of an acute infarct from the vertebral arteries or posterior inferior cerebellar arteries (PICA). The most common mechanism of stroke usually is atherothrombosis, followed by cardioembolic, dissection and embolic source of undetermined source (ESUS). While dysphagia often accompanies the constellation of LMS symptoms, it is rarely the first symptom and has only been reported in a few cases in the literature. In this report we describe the case of a man in his 40s with acute onset dysphagia as the presenting finding ahead of an LMS diagnosis. Methods The patient was identified in routine clinical practice. Results A man in his 40s with medical history of HTN, type 2 DM and polycystic kidney disease, presented with sudden‐onset dysphagia which started while he was drinking alcohol. Later he noticed that he was unable to keep his balance. His National Health Institute Stroke Scale was 4. Neurologic exam was pertinent for left‐sided miosis, ptosis, and dysmetria. Pinprick and temperature sensation were decreased on the right arm and leg. Facial sensation to light touch was diminished on the left. Brain MRI showed an acute infarct in the left lateral medulla (Figure A). CTA showed calcified atherosclerosis of the V4 segment of left vertebral artery (Figure B). Mechanism of ischemic stroke was artery to artery thromboembolism from the left V4 segment of vertebral artery. For secondary prevention, dual antiplatelet therapy, high intensity statin, and optimization of his risk factors were initiated. Conclusion This case report demonstrates that dysphagia can be the initial symptom of an acute ischemic stroke. Diagnosis and recognition of an atypical presentation of lateral medullary syndrome can pose a particular challenge especially in this era of “time is brain” but is of the utmost importance to facilitate good outcomes. Patients presenting with dysphagia who have risk factors for stroke and no other obvious etiology for their symptoms should be worked up for possible cerebrovascular etiology.
format Article
id doaj-art-8395288d827f4e47828839bc7d99e705
institution DOAJ
issn 2694-5746
language English
publishDate 2023-11-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology
spelling doaj-art-8395288d827f4e47828839bc7d99e7052025-08-20T03:08:48ZengWileyStroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology2694-57462023-11-013S210.1161/SVIN.03.suppl_2.094Abstract 094: Sudden Onset Dysphagia: A Symptom To Be Aware of During Code StrokesAysha Abeer0Wilson Rodriguez1Nicholas Schaper2Yoan Ganev3Gunjanpreet Kaur4Adam Awad5Brian Miremadi6St. Louis University Hospital SSM Health Missouri United StatesSt. Louis University Hospital SSM Health Missouri United StatesSt. Louis University School of Medicine Missouri United StatesSt. Louis University School of Medicine Missouri United StatesSt. Louis University Hospital SSM Health Missouri United StatesSt. Louis University Hospital SSM Health Missouri United StatesSt. Louis University Hospital SSM Health Missouri United StatesIntroduction Lateral medullary infarction (LMI) can present with dysphagia, dysphonia, dysarthria, vertigo, nausea, skew deviation, and ipsipulsion. Patients may also exhibit sensory loss and ipsilateral Horner’s syndrome. LMS often develops because of an acute infarct from the vertebral arteries or posterior inferior cerebellar arteries (PICA). The most common mechanism of stroke usually is atherothrombosis, followed by cardioembolic, dissection and embolic source of undetermined source (ESUS). While dysphagia often accompanies the constellation of LMS symptoms, it is rarely the first symptom and has only been reported in a few cases in the literature. In this report we describe the case of a man in his 40s with acute onset dysphagia as the presenting finding ahead of an LMS diagnosis. Methods The patient was identified in routine clinical practice. Results A man in his 40s with medical history of HTN, type 2 DM and polycystic kidney disease, presented with sudden‐onset dysphagia which started while he was drinking alcohol. Later he noticed that he was unable to keep his balance. His National Health Institute Stroke Scale was 4. Neurologic exam was pertinent for left‐sided miosis, ptosis, and dysmetria. Pinprick and temperature sensation were decreased on the right arm and leg. Facial sensation to light touch was diminished on the left. Brain MRI showed an acute infarct in the left lateral medulla (Figure A). CTA showed calcified atherosclerosis of the V4 segment of left vertebral artery (Figure B). Mechanism of ischemic stroke was artery to artery thromboembolism from the left V4 segment of vertebral artery. For secondary prevention, dual antiplatelet therapy, high intensity statin, and optimization of his risk factors were initiated. Conclusion This case report demonstrates that dysphagia can be the initial symptom of an acute ischemic stroke. Diagnosis and recognition of an atypical presentation of lateral medullary syndrome can pose a particular challenge especially in this era of “time is brain” but is of the utmost importance to facilitate good outcomes. Patients presenting with dysphagia who have risk factors for stroke and no other obvious etiology for their symptoms should be worked up for possible cerebrovascular etiology.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/SVIN.03.suppl_2.094
spellingShingle Aysha Abeer
Wilson Rodriguez
Nicholas Schaper
Yoan Ganev
Gunjanpreet Kaur
Adam Awad
Brian Miremadi
Abstract 094: Sudden Onset Dysphagia: A Symptom To Be Aware of During Code Strokes
Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology
title Abstract 094: Sudden Onset Dysphagia: A Symptom To Be Aware of During Code Strokes
title_full Abstract 094: Sudden Onset Dysphagia: A Symptom To Be Aware of During Code Strokes
title_fullStr Abstract 094: Sudden Onset Dysphagia: A Symptom To Be Aware of During Code Strokes
title_full_unstemmed Abstract 094: Sudden Onset Dysphagia: A Symptom To Be Aware of During Code Strokes
title_short Abstract 094: Sudden Onset Dysphagia: A Symptom To Be Aware of During Code Strokes
title_sort abstract 094 sudden onset dysphagia a symptom to be aware of during code strokes
url https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/SVIN.03.suppl_2.094
work_keys_str_mv AT ayshaabeer abstract094suddenonsetdysphagiaasymptomtobeawareofduringcodestrokes
AT wilsonrodriguez abstract094suddenonsetdysphagiaasymptomtobeawareofduringcodestrokes
AT nicholasschaper abstract094suddenonsetdysphagiaasymptomtobeawareofduringcodestrokes
AT yoanganev abstract094suddenonsetdysphagiaasymptomtobeawareofduringcodestrokes
AT gunjanpreetkaur abstract094suddenonsetdysphagiaasymptomtobeawareofduringcodestrokes
AT adamawad abstract094suddenonsetdysphagiaasymptomtobeawareofduringcodestrokes
AT brianmiremadi abstract094suddenonsetdysphagiaasymptomtobeawareofduringcodestrokes