How to treat cerebral embolism?

Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
Updated on February 07, 2025
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Brain embolism generally blocks relatively larger cerebral blood vessels and often leads to extensive death of brain cells. Therefore, patients with brain embolism are primarily treated with medications that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis to improve circulation. Additionally, patients with brain embolism often experience an increase in intracranial pressure, so it is necessary to use medications that reduce intracranial pressure and alleviate brain cell edema. Patients with brain embolism might experience disturbances in consciousness and are prone to develop aspiration pneumonia or dependent pneumonia, so anti-infection medications may be utilized for treatment. Some may also suffer from stress-related gastrointestinal ulcers, or even gastrointestinal ulcer bleeding, thus requiring medications that inhibit gastric acid secretion and protect the gastric mucosa. Other treatments target the cause of the condition. A common cause is the detachment of carotid artery plaques, therefore, medications that prevent arteriosclerosis and stabilize plaques are also used. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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Clinical symptoms of cerebral embolism

Patients with cerebral embolism typically exhibit a sudden onset and rapid progression of the condition, often occurring during physical activity and rapidly reaching its peak. Clinically, this can result in immediate and complete paralysis of one side of the body or total aphasia, and in some cases, it can also lead to a swift onset of coma. Additionally, these patients often experience accompanying conditions such as arrhythmias, carotid artery plaque formation, and arteriosclerosis. The common sources of emboli in cerebral embolism are thrombi attached to the heart wall or plaques formed in the carotid artery. Therefore, these patients often have a history of hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, plaque formation in arteries, atrial fibrillation, or coronary artery disease.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What fluid is infused for cerebral embolism?

Cerebral embolism is a type of ischemic cerebrovascular disease, occurring when an abnormal clot travels to the brain and blocks an artery, leading to corresponding clinical symptoms. Patients may experience speech impairments, motor dysfunctions, limb numbness, and even consciousness disturbances among other clinical manifestations. Some individuals with cerebral embolism may even develop epilepsy. The primary treatment for patients with cerebral embolism involves anticoagulation therapy. Additionally, intravenous medications are mainly used to reduce cerebral edema, activate blood circulation and remove stasis, protect brain cells, and eliminate free radicals. Medications to improve collateral circulation via intravenous routes are also applicable. Generally, the prognosis of cerebral embolism is not very good; it is prone to transition to cerebral hemorrhage and may leave sequelae such as epilepsy. (Please use medications under the guidance of a professional physician, and do not self-medicate.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Can cerebral embolism be treated with thrombolysis?

For patients with cerebral embolism, if the onset is not particularly severe and the area of the embolism is not very large, for example, if the patient's consciousness is still clear, then thrombolysis can still be feasible. It is now also relatively advocated because the risk of cerebral hemorrhage is relatively small in such cases. However, if the area of the cerebral embolism is large, especially if the patient has fallen into a coma or other consciousness disorders, and shows conjugate gaze palsy, then the risk of thrombolysis is very high, and there is a very likely risk of conversion to cerebral hemorrhage. In such cases, thrombolysis is not recommended, and arterial thrombectomy can be performed instead, which can greatly save the patient's life and improve the quality of life. Besides thrombolysis and thrombectomy, anticoagulant therapy should also be administered after the condition stabilizes, as most cases of cerebral embolism are caused by atrial fibrillation, and anticoagulant therapy can prevent future attacks.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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Auxiliary examinations for cerebral embolism

Patients with cerebral embolism need to undergo a cranial MRI to observe the location of the embolism, the area of brain tissue necrosis, and the age of the lesion, which is helpful in assessing the severity of the disease and prognosis. Additionally, it is necessary to examine the cervical vasculature with Doppler ultrasound to check for the presence of carotid artery plaques, especially soft plaques which are prone to detachment and can form emboli, blocking cerebral vessels and potentially causing recurrence or exacerbation of cerebral embolism. Furthermore, an echocardiogram of the heart is required because another common source of emboli in cerebral embolism is mural thrombi in the heart, particularly in patients with arrhythmias or atrial fibrillation, who are more prone to form mural thrombi. Therefore, patients with cerebral embolism need to have an echocardiogram to check for the presence of mural thrombi. If present, anticoagulant medication is required for treatment. (Please use medications under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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Which department should I go to for a cerebral embolism?

Patients with cerebral embolism need to visit the department of neurology, as it is considered a critical condition in this field. The onset of the disease is sudden and progresses rapidly. Often, in a very short period of time, the condition escalates to a peak, causing the patient to fall into a coma or suffer from complete paralysis of one side of the body. The most common cause of cerebral embolism, and the most frequent source of emboli, is atrial fibrillation, where clots form on the inner walls of the heart; these clots can detach and, carried by the bloodstream, block cerebral vessels. Another common source of emboli is carotid artery plaques, especially soft plaques which are prone to detachment. Once detached, these plaques form emboli that can obstruct major brain vessels, leading to cerebral embolism. Following cerebral embolism, usually larger blood vessels are blocked, causing abrupt blockages in cerebral circulation, and leading to issues with brain blood supply. Generally, this results in extensive brain ischemia, cerebral edema, and brain tissue necrosis. The condition progresses rapidly and requires prompt medical attention and comprehensive hospital treatment.