Transient occlusion of intracranial blood vessels

The authors suggest that some cerebral ischaemic lesions depend upon a transient obstruction of intracranial blood vessels (particularly the trunk and the branches of the middle cerebral artery). This explains (as in the patient described here) the cases in which an ischaemic lesion does not correspond with the vascular lesions found on arteriography and/or at autopsy. Furthermore the authors indicate the importance of blood flow in the spontaneous relief of obstruction which is favoured by an undamaged vascular bed. Consequently they recommend, if possible, early surgical treatment of the carotid lesions, in order to reduce the risk of emboli and to improve cerebral blood flow in general.