Dietary Precautions for Brainstem Hemorrhage

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on February 10, 2025
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For patients with brainstem hemorrhage, attention should be given to their diet. During the acute phase, it is advisable to choose a liquid diet, as most patients with brainstem hemorrhage often have severe swallowing dysfunction. Failing to choose a liquid diet can lead to aspiration, which in turn causes aspiration pneumonia. Furthermore, patients should avoid certain foods for a short period, particularly greasy or spicy foods, as most patients experience significant reductions in digestive function during the acute phase. If dietary intake is not carefully managed, patients often experience significant abdominal pain and diarrhea. Once the patient's condition stabilizes, it is appropriate to include fresh vegetables and fruits in their diet.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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What fruits to eat for brainstem hemorrhage

For patients experiencing brainstem hemorrhage, during the acute phase, if the patient shows significant swallowing dysfunction, it is not appropriate to eat fruits. Instead, you can wait until the patient's condition is stable. At that point, fruits can be juiced, and most of the pulp can be filtered out using a sieve. The fresh juice can be given to the patient to drink. However, it is important to note that if the patient has significant difficulty swallowing and coughs while drinking, this method is not suitable. Once the patient's condition stabilizes, it may be appropriate to gradually introduce some fresh fruits. Common fruits available in the market, such as apples, bananas, and oranges, are usually suitable. It's best to avoid or limit consumption of certain special fruits like durian or mango.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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The chances of regaining consciousness after brainstem hemorrhage

The probability of awakening from brainstem hemorrhage is generally only about 30%-45%, which is relatively low. This is because the brainstem is the most important center for circulation and respiration in the human body, as well as the awakening center. Awakening can be divided into two stages: the first stage is being able to eat, drink, and defecate independently; the second stage is being able to communicate normally with others. However, patients with brainstem hemorrhage, due to severe damage, may not even reach the first stage, meaning they may not even survive, and reaching the second stage is even more difficult. Therefore, it is essential to clearly understand the specific circumstances at the time, as awakening is generally a very unlikely event.

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Written by Huang Lei
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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How to rehabilitate through exercise after brainstem hemorrhage

Regarding the specific measures for rehabilitation exercises for brainstem hemorrhage, it is necessary to analyze specific problems based on the different conditions of the patients. Based on our past experience, several common symptoms of brainstem hemorrhage can be addressed with corresponding rehabilitation measures. The first one is swallowing disorder, which is very common in patients with brainstem hemorrhage. We can provide patients with electrical stimulation and ice stimulation, and teach them morning exercises such as cheek puffing, tongue stretching, and dry swallowing practices. The second common issue is articulation disorder, for which we can teach patients some speech training. Usually, we can prepare patients with rhythm, cadence, and deep breathing exercises for speech training. The third is the dysfunction of limb mobility. For specific activities, we need to conduct training, including some balance function training.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Is it normal to have a high fever with brainstem hemorrhage?

Patients with brainstem hemorrhage who develop a high fever may have several possible causes. Firstly, it might be due to absorption heat, but in such cases, the body temperature generally does not exceed 38.5 degrees Celsius. If there is recurrent fever, accompanied by coughing, expectoration, yellow and sticky sputum that is difficult to expel, it is mostly considered likely to be a pulmonary infection, in which case the body temperature generally exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, and high fever occurs. Additionally, it is important to note that once fever occurs, antipyretic medications should be administered to the patient to help lower the body temperature. Physical methods such as using warm water or rubbing alcohol for baths can also be used to reduce the temperature.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Brainstem hemorrhage blood pressure control range

The range of blood pressure control for brainstem hemorrhage must be specifically judged based on the current medical condition at the time. Generally speaking, it is optimal to maintain the systolic blood pressure between 110-120 mmHg. This can both ensure normal cerebral blood supply and reduce the risk of recurrent cerebral hemorrhage due to high blood pressure. However, each patient's baseline blood pressure is different, and many patients have a baseline systolic pressure higher than 180 mmHg. In such cases, it might be appropriate to adjust the target slightly higher, for instance around 130 mmHg. It is recognized that no one’s blood pressure can be perfectly consistent, so a certain degree of fluctuation is acceptable. Unless there are long-lasting high values, in which case, control within a certain range might be needed.