Is brainstem hemorrhage prone to recurrence?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on February 13, 2025
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
50sec home-news-image

Can you survive with 10 milliliters of bleeding in the brainstem?

A brainstem hemorrhage of 10 milliliters is relatively significant; whether the patient can survive depends on specific circumstances. First, it must be determined if the hemorrhage has compressed important neural nuclei, causing apparent respiratory and circulatory dysfunction. If such dysfunction occurs, it could severely threaten the patient's life. Additionally, the patient's level of consciousness and the availability of timely and effective treatment, along with necessary life support, must be considered. For example, if respiratory and circulatory dysfunction arises, it might be appropriate to use vasopressors to maintain blood pressure and ventilators to assist breathing. If effective life support is available, it is often possible to survive the peak period of swelling and preserve life.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
53sec home-news-image

Why would there be bleeding in the brainstem?

Firstly, hemorrhaging can occur anywhere there are blood vessels. The brainstem is an important functional area of the human brain, connecting the cerebrum above and the spinal cord below, with the cerebellum closely positioned behind it. It serves as a crucial relay station for neural connections. This area is the control center of human life, managing vital functions such as breathing and heartbeat. Additionally, this area is densely packed with blood vessels. For patients with chronic hypertension, unstable blood pressure control can lead to degeneration and necrosis of the vessels, and even the formation of dissecting aneurysms or microaneurysms, which can cause the vessels to rupture and bleed under certain conditions. Like the vessels in other parts of the intracranial space, the blood vessels in the brainstem can also bleed. This is referred to as brainstem hemorrhage.

doctor image
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.

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

sequelae of brainstem hemorrhage

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
46sec home-news-image

Symptoms and signs of brainstem hemorrhage

The symptoms and signs of brainstem hemorrhage must be judged based on the situation. There are many nerve fibers in the brainstem, and bleeding in any area could lead to different clinical manifestations. The most common general symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and numbness and weakness in the limbs, and even conditions such as drowsiness, stupor, and even coma may occur. If more severe, it could cause abnormal rhythms in heart and respiratory functions, and some special symptoms might appear. For example, hemorrhage in the midbrain might cause bilateral pupil constriction, especially pinpoint constriction; if the hemorrhage occurs in the medulla, it could cause respiratory and circulatory arrest early on.