Cerebral ischemia associated with carotid artery dissection after hanging

Abstract

Dissection is a term often used to describe the separation of the arterial intima layer from the media layer, and more rarely the separation of the media layer from the adventitia layer. Despite the rare occurrence of this condition, the fact that mortality rate is between 19-43% makes the early diagnosis and treatment important. The hanging-related carotid artery dissections are rarely seen. In this article, a case with cerebral ischemia resulting from hanging carotid artery dissection is presented and the clinical findings,diagnostic procedures, and choice of treatment are discussed in the light of the literature.

Keywords

• hanging
• carotid artery dissection
• ischemic infarction.