From this article you will learn: what could be the consequences of cerebral stroke in the right hemisphere, how badly disturbed the condition of patients, and what it depends on. How many live people who have suffered a stroke of the right side.
Contents of the article:
- If the right side stroke is ischemic
- If the stroke is hemorrhagic
- Different long-term consequences for the severely ill
Stroke is part of a group of serious diseases. Every year thousands of people die from it and become disabled. In general, 50-60% of patients manage to survive, and no more than 10% can fully recover. This means that the consequences of the disease are really severe, and there is not always the opportunity to influence them.
Click on photo to enlarge The prognosis depends on several factors that are described in the table:
| What the consequences of | depend on How the factors influence the outcome of |
|---|---|
| The form of the disease | The consequences of ischemic stroke are less dangerous than hemorrhagic |
| Stroke dimensions | The larger the necrosis area inbrain( massive stroke, or microstroke), the worse the recovery forecast for |
| Involvement in the process of vital brain centers | The localization of stroke in the brain stem is completedeadly |
| Age and general condition of the patient | Prognosis worse for the elderly and people with severe concomitant diseases |
| Time of care | The later the patient was taken to the hospital( more than 3-6 hours), the worse the consequences |
As for the life expectancy after a stroke in the righthemisphere, it is in a wide range, because it depends on the factors described in the table, and ranges from several hours to dozens of years.
The stroke of the right side of the brain is symptomatic and different from the left-sided. This is due to the fact that each of the hemispheres is responsible for different brain functions.
Click on photo to enlarge If the right side stroke is ischemic
Most strokes in the right hemisphere are ischemic in nature - due to occlusion of arteries that bring blood to the brain. This variant of cerebral circulation disorders proceeds gradually - 75% of patients note the increase in symptoms within a few hours or even days. This makes it possible to seek medical help in a timely manner and to reduce the severity of the consequences. Therefore, the main thing that affects the prognosis for this form of the disease is the size of the stroke.
MRI images show development of ischemic stroke in the right temporal region of the brain Small dimensions of the necrotic area of the brain
If, according to tomography, experts do not classify ischemic stroke as massive( large) or speak of it as a micro stroke, this means that the prognosis for lifepatient favorable. Such changes in the brain do not have a significant effect on its duration - the disease is not fatal. The exception is the cases in which the blood supply to the brainstem is impaired. It contains vital centers - respiratory and cardiovascular. Therefore, even a small stroke affecting the trunk of the brain, in 95-99% ends with the death of patients within a few hours or days.
The main problem faced by patients who underwent a right hemispheric stroke of small dimensions is a different degree of disability( the smaller the focus, the less the neurological defect).In 60-70% of such patients are limited in mobility, but are not bedridden, they lose the opportunity to adequately perceive the world around them, everything that happens to them, and the ability to think logically.
Such a nature of the consequences is caused by the fact that in the right hemisphere of right-handed persons there are nerve centers responsible for the motor activity of the left half of the body, intellectual and mental abilities and memory. The corresponding centers for lefthanders are localized in the left hemisphere. Therefore, the right hemispheric stroke in them is characterized by other consequences - similar to the ischemic process in the left hemisphere in right-handed people.
The main consequences are described in the table.
| How the illness ends | Decoding of consequences |
|---|---|
| Paralysis of the left side of the body or hemiplegia( hemiplegia) | Reduction of motor activity and strength of the left arm and leg - they are constantly bent, the patient can sit, but can not normally move the limbs without assistance, disrupted walking, seizureof objects by brush |
| Sensitivity disorder of the left half of the body( hypoesthesia) | Surface sensation sharpens or distorts - pain and temperature sensation( startle at touch) |
| The sensation of the segments of their own extremities and their location in space is lost( they are bent or uncoupled) | |
| Mental and behavioral disorders | Foolishness, criticism, obscene language and other excessive inadequate speech, agitation, aggression, frequent depression, discontent or unreasonable joy |
| Amnesia | Patients forget current or recent events, but remember the past, there may be periods of total lack of memory, disorientation in one's self, locationwalking and time |
| Visual disorders on the left | Reducing vision or blindness, double vision in the left eye, head and left eye turned to the left |
Any consequences of ischemic stroke tend to decrease over time( up to 1-1.5 years) if complete restorative treatment and rehabilitation.
About 25% of patients under the age of 55 with the minimum size of dead necrosis in the brain are fully recovered without visible signs of neurological deficiency.
How many lost functions recovered the patient for 1-2 years, such will be his abilities for the rest of his life. This means that by the time of this time, nerve cells are practically not restored and the existing brain changes become irreversible.
Massive focus of
If, according to the tomography data, the area of the infarction( necrosis) of the brain is regarded as a large( massive stroke), the forecast is unfavorable. Such patients either die within a few days( 60-70%), or survive, becoming deep disabled( 30-40%).
If a person's life has been saved, they will have to face the same consequences that are typical for a small stroke, but they are more pronounced:
- Persistent paralysis of the arm and legs on the left side - the patients are chained to the bed, they can not even sit alone.
- Impairment of consciousness or disorientation - the brain coma may continue until the end of life, but if the consciousness recovers, the higher brain functions will be lost( the patient does not perceive who he is and what happens to him).
- Mental disorders - human behavior is limited to primitive abilities, complete lack of criticism, normal thinking, related speech( only screaming, individual words or sentences).
- Swallowing disorders - patients either physically can not, or do not realize the need to swallow. This disrupts the power supply and requires either special skills for this from those who care, or the setting of a permanent gastric tube for nutrition.
Care for people after massive ischemic stroke is difficult. Therefore, following the existing neurological abnormalities, there are various complications: pneumonia, decubitus, exhaustion. They cause the death of most patients within 1-2 years. But 10-15% of people live more than 10 years.
If the stroke is hemorrhagic
The consequences of hemorrhagic stroke of the right side of the brain are heavier than ischemic. This is due to the fact that, regardless of the size of the affected area of the brain, the recovery of nerve cells is slow. Spilled blood compresses and impregnates tissues, completely destroying them. This means that not all the lost functions of the nervous system can be returned.
Small hemorrhage
The prognosis for life of people with a small hemorrhage in the right hemisphere of the brain is ambiguous - 65-75% survive, but become disabled. The degree of disabling effects is always higher than with the ischemic process, although the nature of the manifestations is the same - the left side is paralyzed, the sensitivity is impaired, the criticism, memory and vision are reduced to the left eye. This means that patients can:
- Restore completely( 10-15%).
- Have a moderate neurological deficit - go with a cane, are capable of self-service, but limited( 65-75%).
- To have a rough neurological deficit - move in a wheelchair or lie, not capable of self-service( 15-20%).
The main distinctive features of the consequences after hemorrhagic stroke in the right hemisphere:
- Increased sensitivity to loud sounds and bright light.
- Irritability, nervousness.
- Frequent headaches.
- Movement coordination disorder.
- Frequent disturbances of swallowing and sleeping.
Massive hemorrhage( bruise) or ventricular rupture
Stroke-hematoma, massive or large hemorrhage located in the right hemisphere, ends in 95-99% with the early death of patients. If there is a breakthrough of blood in the ventricles of the brain, death occurs immediately or within the first 24 hours. No more than 10-15% of such patients can save an emergency operation - removal of a hemorrhage, drainage of the cavity of the skull or ventricles. But the survivors will be deep disabled in a comatose or disoriented state, unable to self-service. The duration of their life is small - from several days to several months.
Large size hemorrhage in the right hemisphere of the brain can lead to comatose state Various long-term consequences for seriously ill
People who recovered fully after a stroke on the right side, or have a disability, but are not tied to a bed, can live for tens of years. All recumbent patients are susceptible to secondary consequences that lead to severe complications or death. It can be:
- The contracture of the joints of the left arm and the leg - after a few years they freeze in a bent position, they can not be unrolled, even with great efforts.
- Infectious processes of the lungs - a violation of swallowing, a gastric tube and poor breathing contribute to the accumulation of mucus in the airways. They multiply infection, which causes the development of pneumonia( pneumonia).
- Renal infection - a violation of urination and a catheter installed in the bladder create conditions for inflammation in the kidneys.
- Bedsores - the formation of large non-healing wounds on the buttocks, in the region of the cross and hip joints.
- Total body exhaustion, swelling.
Any stroke is a pathological process, proceeding according to the individual scenario. Yes, it has the most frequent patterns and outcomes. But nothing gives you the right to give up and not do everything possible so that its consequences are as small as possible. Remember - everything is in your hands!
