Can cerebral infarction be cured completely?

Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 09, 2024
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Stroke is not a disease that can be completely cured. Instead, the goal of treatment is to prevent further occurrences and developments of stroke, and there is also the potential for some relative improvement later on. This is considered a very good treatment goal. In the case of stroke, it involves the ischemic necrosis of nerve cells. Additionally, nerve cells have a characteristic that once they die, they cannot regenerate. Therefore, in clinical practice, there are no treatments available that can promote the regeneration of nerves. Treatment can only compensate for the functions of the surrounding healthy nerves to take over the functions of the dead nerves. However, this compensatory process is very slow, often taking two to three months to show significant progress. Hence, it is necessary to continue active rehabilitation exercises later to promote the formation of this compensatory mechanism.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Methods of Cerebral Infarction

There are many methods for treating cerebral infarction, but it is essential to make judgments based on the situation, as each patient's condition is different and requires different treatment approaches. For patients with acute cerebral infarction, treatments such as emergency thrombolysis or thrombectomy can be undertaken. For chronic cerebral infarction, initially, medical treatment is applied, including managing blood pressure, lowering blood lipids, stabilizing blood sugar levels, quitting smoking and alcohol, etc. Subsequently, this includes the oral administration of antiplatelet aggregation medications, which can effectively reduce the recurrence of cerebral infarction. Finally, corresponding surgical treatments are considered, including endarterectomy, superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery anastomosis, and appropriate stent implantation surgeries, depending on the specific characteristics. (Specific medications should be administered under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Premonitory symptoms of cerebral infarction recurrence

The symptoms preceding the recurrence of a cerebral infarction mainly involve observing the symptoms presented during the initial incidence of the stroke. In many cases, the recurrent symptoms are very similar to those initially experienced. For example, if dizziness was a symptom during the previous episode, then dizziness could also be a precursor symptom in a recurrence, with similar nature and intensity of dizziness as before. Additionally, if previous symptoms included limb numbness, weakness, or speech impairment, similar signs might precede a recurrence. Clinically, it is imperative to address these issues before an actual recurrence occurs, such as actively pursuing antiplatelet aggregation therapy, lipid-lowering, and stabilizing plaques, and resorting to surgical treatment if necessary, to better reduce the chances of stroke recurrence.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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What location is used for moxibustion in the treatment of cerebral infarction?

For patients with cerebral infarction, it is usually recommended during the acute phase to conduct a cranial MRI to determine the location and severity of the stroke and to decide the next treatment plan. If surgery is indicated, treatment can be administered through intravenous thrombolysis. If surgery is not indicated, or the optimal treatment time has been missed, it is recommended that the patient be hospitalized for treatment. During the acute phase, medications that invigorate the brain and improve blood circulation while nourishing the nerves are administered, and it is important to monitor any changes in the patient's condition. The effectiveness of moxibustion in treating cerebral infarction is generally moderate. During the recovery phase, patients can try moxibustion, but it is generally advised to seek treatment under the guidance of a Traditional Chinese Medicine physician at a reputable tertiary hospital.

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Written by Shu Zhi Qiang
Neurosurgery
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post-stroke sequelae

Brain infarction is a very common type of ischemic cerebrovascular disease, which mainly includes the following types: the most common are lacunar infarction, cerebral thrombosis, and cerebral embolism. The neurological sequelae of lacunar infarction are not particularly typical, and patients may exhibit mild incomplete paralysis of limbs, decreased muscle strength, reduced sensation, or ataxia. Cerebral thrombosis and cerebral embolism often cause extensive brain infarction, where patients typically experience severe limb paralysis, loss of sensation, increased tendon reflexes, positive pathological reflexes, and an inability to care for themselves.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Causes of cerebral infarction

There are many causes of cerebral infarction, but the most common in clinical practice is the narrowing or occlusion of the carotid artery. Since the brain is supplied by four blood vessels, any issues with any of these vessels can potentially lead to a cerebral infarction. Conditions commonly known as the "three highs"—high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol—can easily lead to narrowing or even blockage of the blood vessels. Thus, these factors are fundamentally the cause. Additionally, smoking and drinking can also lead to vascular narrowing and cause cerebral infarction. In some special cases, autoimmune diseases can cause inflammation inside the vessels, leading to narrowing. Other causes include arterial tears due to trauma, which can lead to ischemia and infarction, or abnormal blood supply due to arrhythmias causing cerebral infarction.