Successful microvascular decompression surgery for dolichoectatic vertebral artery compression of medulla oblongata in a patient with hypersomnia disorder

Abstract

Introduction

Hypersomnia is a condition in which a person has trouble staying awake during the day. There are several potential causes of it, including sleep apnea and sleep disorders.

Case presentation

A 43 year old male was referred to our practice with complaints of hypersomnia, snoring, slurred speech and sleep apnea for more diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. His brain MRI was significant for a vascular loop compression on medulla oblongata. The patient underwent microvascular decompression surgery subsequently and showed improvement in all of his symptoms.

Conclusion

One of the rare causes of sleep apnea is medulla oblongata compression by a vascular loop. Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia may cause this phenomenon probably and should be reviewed in imaging examinations more precisely. Microvascular decompression by using a synthetic Teflon patch may be helpful in management of these patients.

Keywords:

• Sleep apnea
• dolichoectasia
• hypersomnia
• vertebral artery

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.