Is a brainstem hemorrhage serious?

Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
Updated on August 31, 2024
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Brainstem hemorrhage is a type of cerebral hemorrhage, occurring within the brainstem, which is the central hub of human life. Thus, once a brainstem hemorrhage occurs, the condition becomes extremely complicated and severe, with very high mortality and disability rates. Clinically, brainstem hemorrhages of less than three milliliters have a mortality rate close to 70%. Those exceeding five milliliters have a mortality rate close to 90%, and hemorrhages over ten milliliters are invariably fatal. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend in brainstem hemorrhages, affecting younger populations. This is mainly due to high work stress, uncontrolled diet, lack of exercise, and notably, a lack of awareness and attention to hypertension among young people, which ultimately leads to brainstem hemorrhage. Brainstem hemorrhage is a very dangerous disease.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Key Points in Nursing Care for Patients with Brainstem Hemorrhage

For patients with brainstem hemorrhage, due to the special location of the bleeding which affects crucial neural functions, these patients often need to be transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) for examination and treatment. In the ICU, close observation of changes in the patient's condition is essential, along with monitoring vital signs including blood pressure, respiration, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation. Nursing care should focus on the patient's pupils, consciousness, and limb activity. It is necessary to manage and stabilize the patient’s blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids through medication, regularly draw blood, and analyze the patient’s biochemical system to prevent severe water and electrolyte disturbances.

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Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
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Is it dangerous to have a high fever with brainstem hemorrhage?

Brainstem hemorrhage is dangerous if accompanied by high fever. Brainstem hemorrhage itself is a severe disease, and patients often experience disturbances of consciousness, coma, and paralysis of limbs. The hemorrhage can damage the center that regulates body temperature, leading to central fever. After falling into a coma, patients may encounter problems with expectoration and swallowing, which can easily lead to aspiration pneumonia and hypostatic pneumonia. Infections can also cause high fever. Patients need to use diuretics to reduce intracranial pressure, but excessive dehydration can also lead to dehydration fever. High fever exacerbates the consumption of the patient's body, increasing the physical burden and potentially leading to multiple organ failure. It is necessary to control the fever as soon as possible, using both physical cooling methods and medication.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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Causes of brainstem hemorrhage

The causes of brainstem hemorrhage mainly include the following aspects: The first aspect is hypertension; arteriosclerosis is the most important cause of brainstem hemorrhage because prolonged high blood pressure and continuous impact of blood flow easily lead to damage and disease of the blood vessels, forming small aneurysms. These aneurysms eventually rupture, causing brainstem bleeding. The second aspect is vascular malformations in the brainstem area, which are another major cause of bleeding. Most patients under 40 with normal blood pressure and no coagulation disorders can find vascular malformations in the brainstem area after undergoing DSA examinations following brainstem hemorrhage. The third aspect is heavy drinking leading to increased blood pressure, impaired liver function, abnormal coagulation, etc., ultimately causing bleeding in the brainstem area.

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home-news-image
Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
52sec home-news-image

Is a brainstem hemorrhage serious?

Brainstem hemorrhage is a type of cerebral hemorrhage, occurring within the brainstem, which is the central hub of human life. Thus, once a brainstem hemorrhage occurs, the condition becomes extremely complicated and severe, with very high mortality and disability rates. Clinically, brainstem hemorrhages of less than three milliliters have a mortality rate close to 70%. Those exceeding five milliliters have a mortality rate close to 90%, and hemorrhages over ten milliliters are invariably fatal. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend in brainstem hemorrhages, affecting younger populations. This is mainly due to high work stress, uncontrolled diet, lack of exercise, and notably, a lack of awareness and attention to hypertension among young people, which ultimately leads to brainstem hemorrhage. Brainstem hemorrhage is a very dangerous disease.

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home-news-image
Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
1min home-news-image

Causes of brainstem hemorrhage convulsions

Seizures may occur due to a brainstem hemorrhage for several reasons, First, significant edema following a brainstem hemorrhage, combined with the mass effect of the hemorrhage itself, can lead to substantial compression of the brainstem, potentially resulting in tonic seizures. Second, the irritation from the hemorrhage could trigger symptomatic epilepsy, with the patient possibly experiencing partial new epileptic seizures that evolve into generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Third, the brainstem hemorrhage might cause high fever, which could induce febrile convulsions, also leading to seizures. Fourth, the treatment of brainstem hemorrhage often involves the use of high doses of diuretics. If severe dehydration occurs, it can lead to a state of excessive dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and hyperosmolarity; high sodium levels might also trigger seizures.