Midbrain Stroke Clinical Manifestations and Management

Clinical Presentation and Prognosis

• Progressive impairment of consciousness can occur in patients with midbrain stroke if there is significant swelling causing compression of adjacent structures, as reported by the American Heart Association in Circulation 1
• Monitoring for deterioration with frequent assessment of level of arousal and pupillary function is recommended for patients with midbrain stroke, according to the American Academy of Neurology 4

Radiological Diagnosis

• CT scan may show hypodensity in the midbrain region, but is less sensitive than MRI for detecting small brainstem infarcts, as noted in the journal Stroke 2, 3