Percheron Artery Ischemia: Case Report

Abstract

Context: The Artery of Percheron (AOP) is an uncommon anatomic vascular variation derivated from posterior cerebral artery segment P1, wich branchs to irrigate bilaterally the thalamus in it is paramedian portion. Amidst vascular cerebral events of the ischemic type, thalamic infarction occour in 11% of the cases. The typical clinical presentation is constituted by the triad: cogniyivebehavior comitente, oculomotors and consience disturbs. Case report: J.F.M.L, 51 years old, male, was found unconscious in his residence by SAMU and then interned in Stroke Room of HGP in 02/06/2020 with a lowered level of consciousness (Glasgow 8). The tests demonstrated a bilateral thalamic infarct due to Artery of Percheron Ischemia. In 02/09/2020 it evolved into a Glasgow 9 being extubated. The CT after 3 days demonstrated absence of bleeding and prophylatically initiated simvastatin, clexane, physiotherapy and phonoaudiology. In 02/15/2020, during physical exam, the pacient was lucid, presented behavior alterations, had left cervical dystonia and ataxia. The patient progressed well and was discharged the next day. Conclusions: The AOP, when occluded, results in bilateral paramedian thalamic and the rostral midbrain infarctions wich may cause diagnosis issues, mainly because of the vast specter of diferential diagnosis. In the presence of triad signals characteritic of bilateral thalamic infarction in CT, it must suspect the manifestation of such entity.