Fatal recurrent ischemic stroke caused by vertebral artery stump syndrome

BACKGROUND: Vertebral artery stump syndrome (VASS) develops into recurrent posterior circulation ischemic stroke after ipsilateral vertebral artery (VA) occlusion at its origin. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient was a 46-year-old man with the right posterior cerebral artery occlusion. We used a recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and then performed mechanical thrombectomy using a stent retriever. Angiography revealed left VA occlusion and stagnant flow to the left VA from the right deep cervical artery; therefore, we diagnosed VASS. Within 24 h of the rt-PA injection, the symptoms had dramatically improved, and so we avoided additional antithrombotic agents. Only 13 h later, the patient developed a basilar artery occlusion and died in spite of a repeated mechanical thrombectomy. CONCLUSION: Vigilance against early (and sometimes fatal) recurrent stroke induced by VASS is required.