A 27-year-old female motorcycle passenger was admitted with bruises and concussion after a motor-vehicle accident. After a lucid interval of several hours she became stuporous and progressed to an acute comatose state. Computed tomography demonstrated extensive cerebral ischaemia in the territory of the right middle cerebral artery. Angiography after transfer to the authors' hospital revealed dissections of both carotid arteries and of the right vertebral artery. The patient underwent surgical reconstruction of the left internal carotid artery with saphenous vein. The management of this patient is discussed and the literature reviewed.
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