Can brainstem hemorrhage be cured?

Written by Li Min
Neurology
Updated on April 19, 2025
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Cerebral hemorrhage is divided into lobar hemorrhage, ventricular hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and brainstem hemorrhage. Brainstem hemorrhage is the most severe type of brain injury. Generally, the volume of hemorrhage is determined in three categories: about five milliliters, ten milliliters, and more than ten milliliters. If it is less than five milliliters, then the volume of hemorrhage is relatively small, and recovery is relatively good, usually without leaving residual symptoms. If it is between five to ten milliliters, life may be preserved, but severe residual symptoms such as hemiplegia, sensory disorders, and motor disorders may occur. However, if it exceeds ten milliliters, the mortality rate is generally very high, making it very difficult to salvage.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Brainstem hemorrhage is what?

There are many causes of brainstem hemorrhage, and clinically, it is mostly considered to be caused by hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. Patients have a history of hypertension and have not received regular and effective antihypertensive treatment, leading to suboptimal blood pressure control. Excessively high blood pressure often results in the weakening or even disappearance of the patient's own vascular regulatory functions. Under certain triggering factors, such as fatigue, exhaustion, mental stress, or overly intense emotions, the blood pressure within the vessels may exceed their own regulatory capabilities, making bleeding more likely. If the bleeding occurs in the brainstem, it manifests as a brainstem hemorrhage. In some patients, brainstem hemorrhages are caused by conditions like cavernous angiomas, aneurysms, or arteriovenous malformations.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Is brainstem hemorrhage prone to recurrence?

Brainstem hemorrhage is perilous, and its recurrence largely depends on the cause and the management of risk factors. For instance, one significant cause of brainstem hemorrhage is the presence of certain arterial-venous malformations and sponge-like angiomas. Such conditions tend to recur if not surgically addressed promptly by removing these abnormal vessels, thereby reducing the likelihood of recurrence. Additionally, hypertension is the most common cause of brainstem hemorrhage. Long-term high blood pressure can damage arterial walls and lead to ruptures and bleeding. Stable control of blood pressure, alongside a low-salt, low-fat diet, can prevent recurrence of brainstem hemorrhage. However, poorly controlled blood pressure, resulting in severe fluctuations, can significantly increase the risk of recurrence.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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How to prevent brainstem hemorrhage?

To prevent brainstem hemorrhage, it is first recommended that in daily life, if there are underlying diseases such as hypertension or diabetes, it is advisable to keep the patient's blood pressure and blood sugar levels within a stable range. Monitor blood pressure in the morning and evening, and take antihypertensive medication on time. When high blood pressure is detected, you should promptly visit the department of cardiology at the local hospital and ask the doctor to help regulate blood pressure to ensure its stability. In addition, it is recommended to develop good lifestyle habits in daily life, such as regular eating and sleeping, avoiding overwork, exhaustion, mental stress, and staying up late, while maintaining adequate sleep and good lifestyle habits to help prevent brainstem hemorrhage.

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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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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.