How to rehabilitate through exercise after brainstem hemorrhage

Written by Huang Lei
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Updated on January 08, 2025
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
55sec home-news-image

Chance of rescue for brainstem hemorrhage

The chances of successfully treating brainstem hemorrhages vary greatly, as they are closely related to the location and amount of the hemorrhage in the brainstem. Generally speaking, the chance of completely successful treatment of a brainstem hemorrhage is only about 10%, with many cases leaving significant sequelae or leading to clinical death. Particularly in the case of medulla oblongata hemorrhages, even a minimal bleed of 5ml can be extremely critical, as it can immediately cause cessation of both respiration and circulation. This is because this area is crucial for the operation of vital neurological functions and is very delicate; once damaged, it could potentially lead to death. Therefore, it is essential to clearly determine the exact location and volume of the brainstem hemorrhage, as only then can the probability of successful treatment be more accurately calculated.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
59sec home-news-image

How long does it take for the fever to subside after a brainstem hemorrhage?

For patients with brainstem hemorrhage, it is common to develop high fever after the bleeding, where the body temperature often exceeds 38.5℃. There are many reasons for the occurrence of high fever. It can be considered that the presence of an intracerebral hematoma compresses the hypothalamic temperature set point, causing abnormalities in the set point function and leading to central fever, with temperatures often reaching 39℃ or even higher than 40℃. At this time, the use of antipyretic drugs alone generally has poor therapeutic effect. It often requires the effective absorption of the intracerebral hematoma for the body temperature to gradually return to normal. Another situation, considering the occurrence of pulmonary infection, it is necessary to promptly provide patients with antibiotics for effective treatment. When the pulmonary infection is effectively controlled, the body temperature will also gradually decrease.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
56sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
52sec home-news-image

Is a high fever serious with brainstem hemorrhage?

For patients with brainstem hemorrhage who develop a high fever, it is first necessary to consider that the hemorrhage has affected vital central nervous system functions, leading to central fever. In such cases, the fever typically exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, and may even reach high fevers of 39 to 40 degrees Celsius, which are difficult to reduce with ordinary antipyretic drugs. Additionally, some patients with brainstem hemorrhage may also have concurrent lung infections, which can lead to recurrent high fevers exceeding 38.5 degrees Celsius. In such situations, it is advisable to perform a blood test for routine blood work. Furthermore, it is also important to monitor for any local inflammation, auscultate the lungs, and determine if the lung sounds are coarser or if there are any dry or wet rales in both lungs.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
1min 10sec home-news-image

Is brainstem hemorrhage serious?

Brainstem hemorrhage is caused by the rupture of small blood vessels in the brainstem, with common causes including hypertension, cerebral arteriosclerosis, vascular degeneration, and microaneurysms of vessels. Clinically, it manifests as sudden onset of consciousness impairment, confusion, coma or deep coma, accompanied by disorders of limb sensory and motor functions, eye movement disorders, and unstable vital signs, among others. If the hemorrhage occurs in the medulla, it can cause death by stopping the patient's heartbeat and breathing within a short period. Brainstem hemorrhage is a severe condition in neurology, and treatment focuses on bed rest to stop bleeding, reducing intracranial pressure, and treating complications. Despite advances in modern medicine, medical professionals often find themselves powerless in the face of many patients with brainstem hemorrhage. For brainstem hemorrhages with more than three milliliters of blood, most patients ultimately succumb to the condition. Therefore, brainstem hemorrhage is a very serious disease with a very high mortality rate in clinical settings.