Wallenberg Syndrome

What is it?

A neurological disorder that happens when something slows or stops blood flow to your brainstem ( the base of the brain that connects with the spinal cord) in areas of the brain such as lateral medullary and/or posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

It normally occurs after an event that affects how blood flows to your brainstem, like a stroke or blood clot.
It may make you feel as if everything you see is tilted.
It is also known as lateral medullary syndrome or posterior inferior cerebellar artery syndrome.

Diagnosis tests

Physical examination
Neurological examination
MRI
Angiogram
Computed tomography (CT) scan
Electrocardiogram
Blood tests

Urgent treatment is required to reduce complications and/or best possible outcomes, symptoms subside after a few weeks or months i.e. after a stroke. Other times, complications can linger for years afterward.

Cause

A brainstem (the base of the brain that connects with the spinal cord) stroke

This can happen after:

Damage to the lateral part (side) of your medulla oblongata
Blood flow blockages through the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) to your cerebellum or the vertebral artery in your brainstem.

Other less common causes:

Aneurysm
Vertebral artery dissection (occurs when a tear forms in one or more layers of your vertebral artery) i.e. Neck massage
Arteriovenous malformations
Cerebral embolism (blood clot that travels to the brain)
Head injury
Multiple sclerosis
Tuberculosis

Risk factors occur with any condition that may weaken the blood vessels in brainstem region:

Smoking or use tobacco products
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Diabetes
Connective tissue conditions i.e.

Source: https://www.amboss.com/us/knowledge/wallenberg-syndrome

Symptoms

(Symptoms may occur on one side of the body and not the other, not always)

Difficulty swallowing?
Hoarse voice (not going back to normal after two weeks)?
Hiccups?
Loss of sense of taste (including numbness of tongue)?
Fast, involuntary eye movements (nystagmus)?
Double vision?
Issues with balance and/or dizziness and/or coordination?
Vertigo?
Pain or numbness symptoms?
Feeling of pain or temperature on one side of your face but not the other?
Lack of pain and temperature sensation on one side of the face and the other side of the body?
Horner syndrome?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

Stroke
If having multiple above symptoms
Double vision
Fast, involuntary eye movements that can’t be explained
Facial numbness
Pain and numbness on any part of the body to the point one cannot move that limb
Severe balance and dizziness that is not going away

This condition can lead to:

Walking difficulties
Aspirated pneumonia
Deep vein thrombosis
Pulmonary (lung) embolism – blood clot in lungs
Heart attack
Lung infections (due to mechanical ventilation and the use of a nasogastric tube)
Corneal damage
Long term pain
Epilepsy
Learning disabilities

General tips

We want to reduce the risk of stroke:

Stop smoking
Diet and exercise
Lower alcohol consumption
Have good diabetes sugar control
Achieve a healthy weight and hip size

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Wallenberg Syndrome in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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