How to treat cerebral infarction?

Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
Updated on January 18, 2025
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The choice of treatment for cerebral infarction depends on the specific circumstances. Treatment plans for small and large cerebral infarctions are completely different, as are the treatment plans for acute and chronic stages of cerebral infarction. For small areas of acute cerebral infarction, many cases can be treated with intravenous thrombolysis and arterial thrombectomy, which are currently very effective treatments that can significantly help in emergency situations. In the chronic phase, it is necessary to actively improve cerebral circulation, brain protection, lower lipids, stabilize blood sugar, and blood pressure, among other methods, to delay the further progression of the disease. Some cases may also require identifying the cause and opting for surgical interventions, including stent implantation and endarterectomy surgeries.

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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 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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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 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 Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Causes of Cerebral Infarction

At present, there is no consensus on the specific causes of cerebral infarction. It is mostly seen in patients with underlying diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, where there has not been adequate control of the patient's blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. This can lead to significant increases in blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. Over time, this might result in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the patient’s blood vessels. When these plaques break off and enter the bloodstream, they travel with the blood flow and can lodge in the narrow vessels of the brain. This causes blockage of the blood vessel and leads to ischemia, necrosis, softening, and degeneration of the brain tissue in the affected blood supply area, ultimately causing a cerebral infarction.