A stroke can affect any location in the brain. A brainstem stroke is usually small in size but may causesubstantial symptoms.
The brainstem is the region of the brain that physically and functionally connects higher-level brain activity with the rest of the body. It is also the control center for several life-sustaining functions, such as breathing and heart regulation. The brainstem is located deep in the brain and extends down towards the back of the head, right where the skull and the spine meet.
A brainstem stroke is the result of the interruption of blood flow within small arteries in the back of the neck and brain, such as the basilar artery, the right or left posterior inferior cerebellar artery, or the right or left vertebral artery. The causes of brainstem stroke are the same as thecauses of strokesin other regions of the brain.
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Symptoms
A brainstem stroke can cause a range of symptoms, including:
One of the characteristics that distinguishes a brainstem stroke from a stroke of thecerebral cortexis the effect on facial sensation. When a brainstem stroke produces a sensory deficit of the face, the face is numb on the same side as the stroke. This is in contrast to a stroke of the cerebral cortex, which causes a sensory deficit on the opposite side of the face. This is one of the clues that a neurologist uses to diagnose a brainstem stroke.
In some instances, a brainstem stroke can cause hiccups. It also can result in loss of consciousness due to the brainstem’s role in regulation of breathing and heart function.
Massive Stroke: Types, Recovery, and Long-Term Effects
Brainstem Stroke Syndromes
Some brainstem stroke syndromes include a collection of seemingly unrelated symptoms that occur together because their control lies in tiny concentrated regions of the brainstem that share the same blood supply:
Diagnosis
How Stroke Is Diagnosed
Prognosis
As with strokes in other regions of the brain, the prognosis of a brainstem stroke varies. Stroke symptoms usually reach peak severity in the hours and days immediately following the initial onset of stroke beforebeginning to heal. Careful medical monitoring and care can help maximize recovery and decrease disability after a brainstem stroke.
The 7 Stages of Stroke Recovery
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Stroke Association.Brain stem stroke.National Institutes for Health.Locked-in syndrome.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Wallenberg’s syndrome information page.Ortiz de Mendivil A, Alcalá-Galiano A, Ochoa M, Salvador E, Millán JM.Brainstem stroke: Anatomy, clinical and radiological findings.Semin Ultrasound CT MR.34(2):131-41. doi:10.1053/j.sult.2013.01.004
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Stroke Association.Brain stem stroke.National Institutes for Health.Locked-in syndrome.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Wallenberg’s syndrome information page.Ortiz de Mendivil A, Alcalá-Galiano A, Ochoa M, Salvador E, Millán JM.Brainstem stroke: Anatomy, clinical and radiological findings.Semin Ultrasound CT MR.34(2):131-41. doi:10.1053/j.sult.2013.01.004
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Stroke Association.Brain stem stroke.National Institutes for Health.Locked-in syndrome.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Wallenberg’s syndrome information page.Ortiz de Mendivil A, Alcalá-Galiano A, Ochoa M, Salvador E, Millán JM.Brainstem stroke: Anatomy, clinical and radiological findings.Semin Ultrasound CT MR.34(2):131-41. doi:10.1053/j.sult.2013.01.004
American Stroke Association.Brain stem stroke.
National Institutes for Health.Locked-in syndrome.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Wallenberg’s syndrome information page.
Ortiz de Mendivil A, Alcalá-Galiano A, Ochoa M, Salvador E, Millán JM.Brainstem stroke: Anatomy, clinical and radiological findings.Semin Ultrasound CT MR.34(2):131-41. doi:10.1053/j.sult.2013.01.004
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