sequelae of brainstem hemorrhage

Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
Updated on March 26, 2025
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All the different sequelae of cerebral hemorrhage can potentially occur after a brainstem hemorrhage. This is because the brainstem is a critical link between the brain and the body, acting as the command center within the headquarters. Of course, whether sequelae will occur and which ones will occur after a brainstem hemorrhage primarily depends on the amount of bleeding and the location of the bleed.

If the bleeding in the brainstem is minor and occurs in a less critical area, the sequelae are usually minimal, and some people might not experience any sequelae at all.

However, if there is substantial bleeding in the brainstem and the area affected is crucial, the patient may remain comatose for a long period. Even if they are revived and regain consciousness, they may suffer from severe functional impairments and experience numerous sequelae.

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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 Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What will happen with brainstem hemorrhage?

Brainstem hemorrhage is a very dangerous disease because the structure of the brainstem is so crucial. It contains the life centers responsible for breathing and heartbeat, as well as sensory and motor nerve fibers passing through it. If the brainstem hemorrhage is severe and the amount of bleeding is large, the patient may experience paralysis of the limbs, swallowing dysfunction, and choking on water, among other symptoms. If the condition worsens, it can lead to coma, persistent high fever, and even death. Patients with minor brainstem hemorrhages may exhibit symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, numbness in the limbs, and paralysis. Generally, brainstem hemorrhages are caused by hypertension, which must be well controlled.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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How many milliliters of brainstem hemorrhage are fatal?

Brainstem hemorrhage does not have a specific volume that can be fatal; the brainstem is the central hub for respiration and circulation in the human body, including the medulla, midbrain, and pons. For the pons and midbrain, a hemorrhage of five milliliters can be fatal. For the medulla, which is very narrow and densely packed with neural tissue, even one milliliter of bleeding can suddenly cause the patient's respiration and circulation to stop. Therefore, even one milliliter of brainstem hemorrhage is an immeasurable loss, and brainstem hemorrhages should be classified as critically severe. Immediate hospitalization and treatment are crucial to achieve a relatively better prognosis.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Rehabilitation of sequelae of brainstem hemorrhage

For patients with brainstem hemorrhage, there may be certain sequelae, such as obvious motor dysfunction of the limbs, like hemiplegia on one side. Additionally, some patients may also lose speech functions, manifested as motor aphasia or mixed aphasia. Most patients are likely to experience a decline in memory and have difficulty swallowing, often accompanied by coughing when drinking water. For these patients, post-recovery rehabilitation treatment becomes particularly crucial. During the recovery phase, effective rehabilitation exercises should be provided for the sequelae, such as rehabilitation exercises for motor functions of the affected limbs and speech function exercises.

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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.