VAT Tests

What is a Vertebral Artery Test (VAT)?

The , or the de Klein or de Kleyn test, is one of the many tests practitioners utilize to examine a patient’s vertebral artery blood flow and to check if they have symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI). If left unchecked, VBI can affect one’s movement and balance, putting the patient at a higher risk of a stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini-stroke.

Similar to other physical exams, no standardized template exists for this test. But for your benefit and ease, we’ve created a Vertebral Artery Test just for you. You can use this document as a guide, reference, or place to record your patient’s results.

In our template, you can expect to see the following:

• Basic information such as the examination date, patient name, and examiner’s name
• Directions on conducting the test (both variations)
• A guide on how to know if your patient is positive
• A dedicated space where you can write your patient’s results and additional notes you may have

Looking to utilize this test and its template? Continue to the next section for more information on downloading the Vertebral Artery Test (VAT) template and a step-by-step on how to use it.

How does this VAT Test work?

Download the Template

To access and download our template, you can do either of the following:

• Click the “Download Template” or “Use this Template” button above
• Searching for “Vertebral Artery Test” or “VAT” on Carepatron’s template library on our website or app

Assess your Patient

Based on research and expert advice, it has been deemed risky to administer this test to certain patients. Therefore, to guarantee the patient's safety during the procedure, it is imperative to assess their vital signs, particularly their blood pressure and pulse in the relevant areas, before proceeding with the test.

If there are abnormal findings, you should wait until the patient is in good condition.

Conduct the Test

Once you have the go signal, normal readings of a patient’s vital signs, you can proceed with the test.

Before anything, fill out the basic information, such as the patient’s name, your name, and the assessment date first. Afterward, you may proceed to follow the test instructions.

You can refer to the template for the test instructions. However, so you know what to expect, we’ll add the step-by-step for both variations below.

Here are the instructions for the test where the patient is in a sitting position:

1. Have the patient rotate their head to the contralateral side. Hold the position for 10 seconds, counting out loud.
2. Have them return their head to a neutral position. Hold the position for 10 seconds, counting out loud.
3. Have the patient extend their head. Hold the position for 10 seconds, counting out loud.
4. Repeat step 2.
5. Have the patient extend their head and rotate their head to the tested side. Hold the position for 10 seconds, counting out loud.

Meanwhile, here are the instructions for the test where the patient is in a supine position:

1. Have the patient in a supine position with their head off of the edge of the table. Support his head with your hands.
2. Gently extend their head and rotate their head around 30 degrees. Hold the position for 20 to 30 seconds
3. Repeat step 2 on the other side.

Interpret and Proceed

Once you’re finished with the VAT test, it’s time to interpret. Here’s the test result guide you can also find on our template:

(+) Positive Test if:

• They experience the 5Ds (dizziness, diplopia, dysarthria, dysphagia, drop attacks)
• They also experience: nausea, vomiting, sensory changes, nystagmus

Regardless of the test results, it is important to document them along with your findings. Research shows that even if a patient tests negative, they may still have VBII. Therefore, taking notes on the patient's symptoms, even with a negative result, can help the practitioner determine which additional tests are necessary for an accurate diagnosis.

It's important to note that even if the test is positive, further testing is still required before reaching a final diagnosis of VBI.

Scoring

Much like other physical tests with qualitative scoring, VAT scoring is as simple as ticking the negative or positive checkbox based on your observations and interpretation. 

When to use these VAT assessments? 

Practitioners can use these VAT assessments as one of the tests they will conduct on their patients to check if they have VBI. 

But how to know exactly when to conduct this test? If the patient has symptoms, is at risk, and has good vital signs, then you can safely assess your patient using the Vertebral Artery Test (VAT). 

For a list of the symptoms and a list of the people who are at risk of VBI, look below. 

Symptoms

• Diffculty swallowing 
• Numb or tingling feeling
• Blurred, graying, cloudy, double, or complete loss of vision in on or both eyes
• Vertigo, feeling dizzy, confused, or a loss of coordination
• Loosing words or speech slurring
• Falling without a cause

Risk

People who have or do the following are more likely at risk to develop VBI:

• Atherosclerosis
• Hypertension
• Hyperlipidemia
• High Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Older Age
• Sedentary Lifestyle
• Smoking

Who is this VAT Test PDF for?

Medical practitioners specializing in stroke and transient ischaemic attacks, such as vascular neurologists, will benefit from a PDF copy of our Vertebral Artery Test template. Other practitioners who can also utilize the template:

• Neurologists
• Neurosurgeons
• Geriatricians
• Rehabilitation doctors
• General Physicians
• ER Doctors

Benefits of these Free VAT Test Templates

Quick to Administer

To perform the vertebral artery test (VAT), practitioners only need to follow a few instructions. This makes it one of the fastest tests to administer to patients. Moreover, our template provides step-by-step instructions in simple language, minimizing the need to search for definitions of technical terms and saving valuable time.

Adaptable

It’s a huge benefit for practitioners that the VAT test has options regarding the patient's position during a test. Aside from that, practitioners will find it useful that both options are in the template so they no longer need to search and download two separate documents.

Written Copies for Reference

Having a template not only minimizes the chance of you forgetting the test results but beyond being a document you can reference, the template can also be a source of information for fellow practitioners caring for the same patient.

Encourages Communication

As mentioned above, this template can be shared among involved practitioners which encourages communication among those caring for the patient. To add, this template can also be used as a springboard for conversation with regard to the patient’s feelings and health in general.

Fully Digital

Since our template is fully digital, you can download and edit the document on any local PDF editor you have on your gadgets or right on Carepatron anytime, anywhere.