Vertebral artery section for treating arterial compression of the medulla oblongata. Case report.

A case of a 30-year-old man who showed progressive pyramidal tract signs caused by compression of the left vertebral artery is presented. Initial decompression of the vertebral artery by placing a piece of sponge between the artery and medulla had no long-term effect. The left vertebral artery distal to the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery was then sectioned, decompressing the medulla oblongata. The patient's symptoms improved postoperatively. This is the first reported case of brain-stem compression by an elongated vertebral artery treated by sectioning of the artery.