Pre-symptoms of brainstem hemorrhage

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on November 27, 2024
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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 Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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Is a brainstem hemorrhage serious?

Brainstem hemorrhage is a type of cerebral hemorrhage, occurring within the brainstem, which is the central hub of human life. Thus, once a brainstem hemorrhage occurs, the condition becomes extremely complicated and severe, with very high mortality and disability rates. Clinically, brainstem hemorrhages of less than three milliliters have a mortality rate close to 70%. Those exceeding five milliliters have a mortality rate close to 90%, and hemorrhages over ten milliliters are invariably fatal. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend in brainstem hemorrhages, affecting younger populations. This is mainly due to high work stress, uncontrolled diet, lack of exercise, and notably, a lack of awareness and attention to hypertension among young people, which ultimately leads to brainstem hemorrhage. Brainstem hemorrhage is a very dangerous disease.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What should not be eaten in case of brainstem hemorrhage?

Firstly, patients with brainstem hemorrhage should avoid eating foods that are difficult to digest. This is because these patients can easily develop acute gastric mucosal lesions, leading to decreased gastrointestinal function. If they consume harder foods, it could increase the burden on their digestive function, which is detrimental to recovery. Secondly, patients with brainstem hemorrhage should also avoid cold items, such as drinking cold beverages or eating ice cream, as these can easily cause diarrhea. Thirdly, patients with brainstem hemorrhage should not eat overly salty foods, such as pickles, salted meat, salted fish, and so on. These items can cause an increase in blood pressure, potentially exacerbating the brainstem hemorrhage. Fourthly, avoid overly greasy foods as they can increase blood lipids, which is also unfavorable for the recovery from a brainstem hemorrhage. Fifthly, patients with brainstem hemorrhage should not smoke or drink alcohol, as these have no beneficial effect on their condition and could instead accelerate the progression of the disease.

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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.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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What does it mean to perform a tracheotomy on a patient with brainstem hemorrhage?

In general, tracheostomy for brainstem hemorrhage refers to situations where the patient suffers from a degree of consciousness impairment, presenting in a state of stupor or coma, and it is anticipated that the patient's consciousness will not regain clarity in the short term. In such cases, we generally recommend performing a tracheostomy on the patient as soon as possible. Early tracheostomy can help smoothly suction deep phlegm and better protect lung function. Timely use of oxygen nebulization helps dilute the phlegm and promotes its expulsion, which is beneficial in preventing and treating pneumonia.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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How to nourish the body after a brainstem hemorrhage

Brainstem hemorrhage is a very dangerous condition. If the bleeding is substantial, the patient may quickly fall into a coma or even die. If the bleeding is less severe, the prognosis might be relatively better. Patients with brainstem hemorrhage typically experience impaired swallowing functions, showing symptoms like inability to swallow food, difficulty in consuming water, and coughing while drinking. Therefore, it is crucial to supplement nutrition. Primarily, a feeding tube can be inserted for hydration and feeding, with the intake mainly consisting of easily digestible foods such as millet porridge, rice porridge, soybean juice, milk, etc. Additionally, it is important to supplement the patient with fresh vegetables and fruits to ensure an adequate supply of vitamin C. Furthermore, high-quality proteins like lean meat and beef should be provided to ensure adequate protein intake for patients with brainstem hemorrhage.