Locked in and out: a case of emerging basilar artery obstruction secondary to vertebral artery dissection thrombolysed with intravenous rt-PA.

[locked-in syndrome]

The authors present a case in which intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA ) potentially saved a young man from locked-in syndrome or life threatening consequences . The patient presented with acute stroke secondary to vertebral artery dissection and was treated with intravenous rt-PA . There were no post thrombolysis complications and the patient left hospital with mild neurological symptoms . Our report suggests that in cases of acute posterior circulation stroke due to arterial dissection , treatment with intravenous thrombolysis is safe , practicable and effective .