Can brainstem hemorrhage be cured?

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 23, 2024
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For brainstem hemorrhages that have already occurred, the patient should be immediately taken to a local hospital. Initially, a cranial CT scan should be performed to determine the location and amount of bleeding in the brainstem. For minor brainstem hemorrhages, it is recommended to first use medication for treatment. This involves administering drugs that stop bleeding, enhance brain function, promote dehydration, and nourish the nerves, aiding in the gradual cessation of bleeding and the absorption of cerebral hematomas. Most patients can achieve very good treatment outcomes. However, if the brainstem hemorrhage is extensive, it often leads to severe brainstem dysfunction and typically has a poor prognosis.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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What will happen after waking up from a brainstem hemorrhage?

For patients suffering from brainstem hemorrhage, when they are conscious, they often exhibit symptoms of neurological dysfunction. For instance, many patients may experience mild cognitive impairments, such as a decline in memory, as well as a noticeable decrease in learning and calculation abilities. Some patients might lose language functions or display significant aphasia, including anomia, motor aphasia, or mixed aphasia. Additionally, some patients may concurrently suffer from dysphagia, characterized by frequent coughing episodes when drinking fluids. Furthermore, some patients may exhibit specific symptoms or signs of limb motor dysfunction. Such patients typically require ongoing effective treatment.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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Is brainstem hemorrhage dangerous?

The brainstem is the central hub of life in the human body, controlling vital functions such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, body temperature, and consciousness. Bleeding in this area is extremely dangerous and is a life-threatening condition. Clinically, it has a high mortality and disability rate. For hemorrhages larger than 5 mL, most patients will succumb to central respiratory and circulatory failure within 48 hours. Even if the bleeding is less than 5 mL, although aggressive resuscitation may save the patient's life, most will suffer from severe brain dysfunction such as hemiplegia, aphasia, or a vegetative state. Therefore, brainstem hemorrhage is very dangerous.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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How to rehabilitate from brainstem hemorrhage?

For patients with brainstem hemorrhage, it is often recommended during the acute phase to treat them with medications for hemostasis, brain enhancement, nerve nutrition, dehydration to reduce intracranial pressure, and inhibition of gastric acid. It is also important to actively treat complications and comorbidities caused by the brainstem hemorrhage. For these patients, when the condition is stable, appropriate rehabilitation exercises should be carried out. For patients with hemiplegia or aphasia, rehabilitation exercises can be done on the affected limbs, and speech rehabilitation training can help improve current conditions of hemiplegia and aphasia. Additionally, for these patients, active and passive massage of the limbs should be initiated early to prevent muscle atrophy and joint stiffness.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Pre-symptoms of brainstem hemorrhage

Brainstem hemorrhage is extremely dangerous, and once a massive hemorrhage occurs, the patient can quickly lose consciousness and generally there are no effective emergency measures available. The patient will quickly die due to the involvement of the centers controlling heartbeat and breathing. The early symptoms of brainstem hemorrhage are not particularly obvious, but a careful medical history may reveal that patients often experience excessive fatigue, stress, emotional agitation, and poor sleep before the hemorrhage. Patients may show early signs such as dizziness, blurred vision, double vision, limb weakness, and slurred speech. If a patient has very high blood pressure and exhibits these early symptoms, especially if there is discomfort in the neck and upper back area, it is crucial to be highly vigilant and seek immediate medical attention. The prognosis for brainstem hemorrhage is very poor, thus it is essential to focus on preventive measures and properly control blood pressure.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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How long does it take for a brainstem hemorrhage clot to be absorbed?

In general, the absorption time for a brainstem hemorrhage clot is around two to three weeks. During this period, several phases must be passed, with the two main ones being the rebleeding phase and the brain swelling phase. Rebleeding often occurs within three days after the initial bleeding. If not treated promptly during this time, it can easily lead to further brainstem hemorrhage, increasing the size of the clot and hindering the later absorption process. The second phase is the peak of brain swelling and vasospasm. During this phase, certain substances released during the absorption of blood vessels and clots can cause swelling and spasms of the surrounding tissues. If this phase is also safely navigated, then subsequent absorption tends to be relatively quicker. However, complete absorption generally requires at least two to three weeks.