How long can someone with brainstem hemorrhage and hemiplegia survive?

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Patients with brainstem hemorrhage presenting with hemiplegia have varying life expectancies, which depend on their primary diseases. In cases of severe brainstem hemorrhage, extensive bleeding typically causes significant damage to brainstem functions. Patients often remain in a prolonged comatose state, which can even threaten their lives. However, if the brainstem hemorrhage is minor and accompanied by mild limb hemiplegia, it generally does not pose a significant threat to the patient's life. It is crucial to administer medication treatment promptly after the hemorrhage and to start early rehabilitation exercises for the affected limbs. If patients persistently continue these exercises, they often achieve good treatment outcomes and can enjoy a long-term, high-quality life.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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The difference between brainstem hemorrhage and cerebral hemorrhage.

Cerebral hemorrhage refers to any bleeding caused by the rupture of cerebral blood vessels. Based on the location of the bleeding, there is hemorrhage in the cerebral lobes, thalamic hemorrhage, cerebellar hemorrhage, brainstem hemorrhage, and so on. Consequently, brainstem hemorrhage is a type of cerebral hemorrhage. Because the brainstem is the life center of humans, even a small amount of bleeding can lead to severe consequences, and may even cause death. Therefore, brainstem hemorrhage is one of the most dangerous types of cerebral hemorrhage and has a very high rate of mortality and disability in clinical settings.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Is brainstem hemorrhage painful?

Brainstem hemorrhage is relatively painful, and most patients with brainstem hemorrhage will exhibit severe headaches and dizziness. The nature of the pain is intense, resembling a cutting pain that is hard to tolerate. However, when the amount of bleeding is large, it can quickly cause damage to important nerve nuclei in the brainstem, and even affect the central nervous system responsible for consciousness, leading to the patient falling into a stupor or coma. In such cases, the patient may not feel pain, but for those who are conscious, severe headaches and dizziness, accompanied by a strong sense of vertigo, especially noticeable when changing positions, often occur.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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Causes of brainstem hemorrhage

The causes of brainstem hemorrhage mainly include the following aspects: The first aspect is hypertension; arteriosclerosis is the most important cause of brainstem hemorrhage because prolonged high blood pressure and continuous impact of blood flow easily lead to damage and disease of the blood vessels, forming small aneurysms. These aneurysms eventually rupture, causing brainstem bleeding. The second aspect is vascular malformations in the brainstem area, which are another major cause of bleeding. Most patients under 40 with normal blood pressure and no coagulation disorders can find vascular malformations in the brainstem area after undergoing DSA examinations following brainstem hemorrhage. The third aspect is heavy drinking leading to increased blood pressure, impaired liver function, abnormal coagulation, etc., ultimately causing bleeding in the brainstem area.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Pre-symptoms of brainstem hemorrhage

Brainstem hemorrhage is extremely dangerous, and once a massive hemorrhage occurs, the patient can quickly lose consciousness and generally there are no effective emergency measures available. The patient will quickly die due to the involvement of the centers controlling heartbeat and breathing. The early symptoms of brainstem hemorrhage are not particularly obvious, but a careful medical history may reveal that patients often experience excessive fatigue, stress, emotional agitation, and poor sleep before the hemorrhage. Patients may show early signs such as dizziness, blurred vision, double vision, limb weakness, and slurred speech. If a patient has very high blood pressure and exhibits these early symptoms, especially if there is discomfort in the neck and upper back area, it is crucial to be highly vigilant and seek immediate medical attention. The prognosis for brainstem hemorrhage is very poor, thus it is essential to focus on preventive measures and properly control blood pressure.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Is brainstem hemorrhage prone to recurrence?

Bleeding in the brainstem area, if not well controlled and treated, is very prone to recurrence. In most cases, considering that patients have underlying diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, and do not control their blood pressure and blood sugar well, resulting in prolonged high levels of blood pressure and blood sugar, such conditions can easily lead to the recurrence of brainstem hemorrhage. Therefore, it is recommended to monitor blood pressure in the morning and evening, take antihypertensive medications on time, and keep the patient's blood pressure within a relatively stable range. Additionally, it is suggested to follow a light diet, low in salt and fat, and to regularly revisit the local hospital for a thorough monitoring of the patient’s vital signs.