A brain stem stroke is a stroke which originates in the brain stem. Because the brain stem handles many of the body's basic life support functions, such as breathing and heart rate, a brain stem stroke can be fatal. As with other strokes, early treatment is essential, with the prognosis being the best if the patient can be treated within hours of the suspected stroke. Even with immediate care, however, the patient may die or enter a coma, requiring life support to stay alive.
Strokes are conditions characterized by the sudden death of groups of brain cells. They can be caused by clots of blood in the brain, bleeding in the brain, or when other interruptions to the blood supply emerge. Within minutes of a blood supply interruption, cells can die, because the blood carries vital oxygen to the cells, and transports toxic wastes away, acting like a superhighway to keep supplies flowing smoothly. A traffic jam, as it were, can cause cells to die.
The symptoms of a stroke are different, depending on where in the brain the stroke is located, and doctors can use the symptoms to pinpoint the site of the stroke. In the case of a brain stem stroke, the patient often experiences vertigo, slurred speech, and difficulty speaking. Functions like breathing and heart rate may also be interrupted, and some patients enter what is known as a “locked-in state,” in which the patient can sense stimuli, but he or she cannot respond. The locked-in state is also characterized by paralysis.
Treatment of a stroke in the early stages requires resolving the blood supply issue, with the hopes of restoring the flow of blood before too many brain cells are damaged. If the stroke has progressed beyond the point where treatment would be effective, supportive care is used. In some cases, patients may be able to recover, although their functionality will typically be greatly impaired, and they may need physical therapy. In other instances, a brain stem stroke requires life-long use of supportive medical equipment such as ventilators, and the patient may experience a drastically decreased quality of life after a brain stem stroke.
Strokes can be very dangerous, and they can also progress rapidly. If someone appears to be experiencing the signs of a stroke, he or she should be taken for emergency medical treatment. Doctors would much rather tell people that a problem isn't a stroke than be faced with a patient who had a stroke hours before he or she was taken in for care. Because a brain stem stroke can be fatal, it is always better to be safe than sorry.