Can a cerebral infarction be effectively treated?

Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
Updated on January 30, 2025
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Most cases of cerebral infarction can be treated effectively, except for some extensive cerebral infarctions, which may leave varying degrees of sequelae. During the acute phase of treatment for cerebral infarction, medications that promote blood circulation, improve circulation, prevent platelet aggregation, and anti-atherosclerosis drugs are used. If treatment can be administered within three hours of onset, intravenous thrombolysis can be performed, which may lead to a faster recovery if successful. Additionally, medications that eliminate free radicals are used during the acute phase to remove free radicals that damage brain cells. Other treatments involve the use of neurotrophic drugs to support the repair of damaged brain cells. After stabilizing the condition, active rehabilitation exercises are recommended, and most patients can be effectively treated.

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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Lacunar Infarct Nursing Issues

Lacunar stroke is caused by the blockage of small blood vessels in our skull due to long-term risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia, leading to a stroke. Generally, the area of infarction is relatively small, typically less than 1.5 to 2 centimeters. Symptoms may or may not be present. In either case, the symptoms are usually mild and the prognosis is generally good. There are no special strict nursing requirements. If patients are active and can take care of themselves, they do not need special care. Furthermore, it is crucial to focus on secondary prevention, which is to prevent further occurrence of stroke, and to seek further treatment from a neurologist.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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What is a cerebral infarction?

Brain infarction is also relatively common in clinical practice, mainly seen in elderly people, generally accompanied by underlying diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. Brain infarction is primarily caused by the blockage of cerebral blood vessels, leading to necrosis of brain tissue due to ischemia and hypoxia. After a brain infarction occurs, patients should seek medical attention in a timely manner and be admitted to the department of neurology or neurosurgery for systematic drug treatment. If the infarction area is large or a brain herniation has formed, surgical intervention should be considered, such as decompressive craniectomy and lowering intracranial pressure.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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Which department should I go to for a cerebral infarction?

Stroke is caused by blockage or narrowing of blood vessels within the skull, leading to ischemic necrosis of brain tissue and a range of symptoms. Typically, patients with strokes are seen in neurology departments. Of course, the location of the stroke varies, and each patient's clinical presentation is different. If a stroke occurs, a cranial CT scan can provide a clear diagnosis. Clinically, treatment primarily involves dehydration, lowering intracranial pressure, brain protection, and nutritional support. If the patient has a large area of cerebral infarction and high intracranial pressure, they can be seen in neurosurgery, where procedures such as craniotomy decompression may be used to reduce intracranial pressure.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
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How long can someone with a complete paralysis from a cerebral infarction survive?

The life expectancy of patients with total paralysis from cerebral infarction cannot be generalized, as it depends on the size and location of the stroke, as well as the treatment received. A larger affected area, especially if the stroke occurs in a critical area like the brainstem, and if treatment is delayed, may result in the patient not surviving the acute phase due to high intracranial pressure, which can be fatal. If a patient survives the acute phase and moves into the residual effects phase, the outcome will depend on the rehabilitation treatment received, as well as care from family and community nursing. Such patients are prone to complications, such as pneumonia, which can be life-threatening. The initial stroke may not be fatal, but the treatment outcomes vary significantly. Some patients, if well cared for and treated promptly without recurring episodes, can have a comparatively long lifespan.

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Written by Chen Ya
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Is a cerebral infarction a stroke?

Brain infarction is a type of stroke, and in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), stroke is categorized as an illness, differentiated as external and internal wind. External wind, as discussed in "Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases," occurs due to external evil invasions, also referred to as the Gui Zhi soup proof. Internal wind belongs to diseases caused by internal injuries, also termed brain stroke or sudden stroke. Commonly, stroke refers to the type caused by internal injuries involving disorders such as the chaos of qi and blood, obstruction of cerebral vessels, or blood overflow in the brain. It is a cerebral neurological disease identified mainly by sudden fainting, hemiplegia, numb limbs, difficult speech, facial distortion, and unilateral numbness. This condition is characterized by a sudden onset, rapid changes, and is akin to the pathogen of wind favoring rapid and multiple changes. The type of stroke discussed here is akin to a brain stroke. Brain infarction refers to the obstruction in a brain artery caused by various emboli such as intracardiac mural thrombi, atherosclerotic plaques, tumor cells, fibrocartilage, or air traveling with the bloodstream. When collateral circulation fails to compensate, it leads to ischemic necrosis of the brain tissue in the supplied area, causing focal neurological deficits. Cerebral hemorrhage, on the other hand, refers to bleeding within the brain tissue not caused by trauma but due to the rupture of intracerebral vessels. Both cerebral hemorrhage and brain infarction often result in varying degrees of motor deficits, cognitive impairments, and speech and swallowing difficulties, collectively referred to in stroke cases. Hence, brain infarction is considered a type of stroke.