An 88-year-old female is accompanied by her daughter to the emergency department. The daughter explains that her mother was having her hair washed at the beauty salon, then complained of dizziness and fainted. The 88-year-old patient has a history of hypertension for which she takes a beta blocker; otherwise she was in her usual state of health until this incident. On examination, she has no neurological deficits. Which of the following conditions should be considered?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms of dizziness and fainting, especially given her age and the context of having her hair washed (which likely involved hyperextension of the neck), suggest vertebrobasilar insufficiency. This condition occurs when the blood flow to the posterior part of the brain is compromised, often due to atherosclerosis or other factors that can affect the vertebral arteries during neck extension or rotation.

An 88-Year-Old Female Is Accompanied by Her Daughter to the Emergency