vertebrobasilar TIA

Last reviewed 01/2018

Vertebro-basilar artery TIA's - account for about 7% of TIAs - clinical features are more diverse than those that may occur in carotid artery TIA's:

  • commonly vertigo, diplopia, dysarthria, and weakness or sensory disturbance affecting one or other, or both, limbs
  • less commonly, impairment of vision, dysphagia
  • rarely, transient global amnesia, confusion, transient unconsciousness and hearing impairment
  • note that isolated symptoms should not be diagnosed as a vertebro-basilar artery TIA unless accompanied by other symptoms suggestive of a transient brain stem disturbance