Recordings from the 2025 Annual Conference-A Wolf In Sheeps Clothing

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This session highlights why posterior circulation strokes are often missed: they can resemble benign dizziness, produce low or even zero NIH Stroke Scale scores, and carry high mortality—especially when the basilar artery is involved. Presenters reviewed symptoms associated with major posterior circulation arteries and emphasized careful assessment of visual fields, coordination, language, gaze, speech, and swallowing.<br /><br />The “five Ds”—dizziness, diplopia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and ataxia—can help clinicians recognize warning signs. Interactive cases illustrated presentations including nystagmus and hoarseness, alexia and visual field loss, gaze palsy, and locked-in syndrome. The speakers stressed distinguishing subjective complaints from objective neurological findings and not dismissing symptoms as vertigo, intoxication, or another benign condition. Their central message: look beyond first impressions and consider posterior stroke when dizziness occurs alongside other neurological signs.

Keywords

posterior circulation stroke

basilar artery

dizziness

five Ds

neurological signs

locked-in syndrome