Carotid dissection

Carotid artery dissection happens when the layers of the carotid artery in your neck rip or separate. Your neck has two carotid arteries: one on each side. Dissection can develop on its own or as the result of a neck injury. Although the illness might cure on its own with time, it can also produce life-threatening consequences, including stroke or brain haemorrhage.

Causes

  • Car accident
  • Accident involving sports.
  • Forced coughing or nose blowing

Symptoms

  • Eye pain
  • Face pain
  • Headache
  • Horner’s syndrome manifests as facial problems on one side (sagging eyelid, lack of sweat, and one smaller pupil).
  • Neck ache
  • Deficits in the nervous system, such as aberrant reflexes, speech difficulties, memory issues, or balance issues
  • Stroke-like symptoms including disorientation, slurred speech, or abrupt numbness or weakness

Diagnosis

  • CT Angiography
  • MR Angiography
  • Ultrasound
  • Physical exam

Treatment

Specific treatment options include analgesics, a series of stabilizing treatments for any potential strokes, a technique to remove the blood clot, anti-clotting medicine, and surgery to repair the dissection.

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