What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Headache Attributed to Carotid Angioplasty or Stenting
• Headache Attributed to Vertebral Angioplasty or Stenting
• Headache due to Carotid or Vertebral Angioplasty or Stenting

What is Headache Attributed to Carotid or Vertebral Angioplasty or Stenting? (Definition/Background Information)

• Headache Attributed to Carotid or Vertebral Angioplasty or Stenting is a headache disorder that occurs secondary to carotid or vertebral angioplasty with or without stenting surgery. The headache may be accompanied by neck and/or facial pain, and is mostly a post-operative complication that typically resolves within a few days when managed adequately
• Carotid or vertebral angioplasty and/or stenting is a surgical procedure involving the cervical carotid arteries or vertebral arteries that lie in the neck and supply blood to the brain and upper spinal cord regions
• Angioplasty is a procedure to remove blockages in arteries and veins, to improve blood flow, by using a thin tube called a catheter
  • During an angioplasty procedure with stenting, a stent (a small wire mesh) is implanted after widening the vessel with a balloon, to permanently keep the blood vessel open
  • Angioplasty without stenting is a procedure where narrowing of a blood vessel is widened using a dilated balloon. This is also called balloon angioplasty. No stent is placed in the narrowed blood vessel in this procedure
• Very rarely, some individuals who have undergone the angioplasty with or without stenting procedure, may present neurological signs and symptoms that result in a condition called hyperperfusion syndrome, which merits urgent investigation and treatment. This is usually caused by increased blood flow to the brain from the recently widened blood vessel
• Differential diagnosis: It is important to exclude arterial dissection in the head and neck region via suitable tests and procedures prior to arriving at a diagnosis of the condition

The criteria for diagnosis of Headache Attributed to Carotid or Vertebral Angioplasty or Stenting as outlined by the International Headache Society (IHS) is given below:

• Carotid or vertebral angioplasty and/or stenting has been performed
• Any new headache fulfilling the criterion below
• Evidence of causation demonstrated by all of the following:
  • Headache develops within 1 week of the angioplasty and/or stenting
  • Headache resolves within 1 month after the angioplasty and/or stenting
  • Headache is on the same side as the angioplasty and/or stenting
• Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis

(Source: International Headache Society Classification ICHD-3, London, United Kingdom)