The number of years you can live with posterior circulation ischemia is related to the patient’s condition and age, and the life expectancy can be years or even decades.
Posterior circulation ischemia is defined as a transient ischemic attack in the posterior circulation or a cerebral infarction in the posterior circulation. In the case of posterior circulation transient ischemic attacks, there are often no neurological deficits remaining, and with active secondary prevention, the patient’s life expectancy is often unaffected.
In the case of posterior circulation infarcts, the life expectancy of patients with mild symptoms is often unaffected by active rehabilitation and medication. Patients with more severe disease, such as those with impaired consciousness and those whose prolonged bed rest leads to lung infections, may have a correspondingly shorter life expectancy, which may range from a few years to a few decades.
Age is also a factor. If the patient is younger, he or she may survive for decades with aggressive treatment. If the age is older, for example, if the patient is 70 or 80 years old or older, and the underlying health condition is poor, the life expectancy may be correspondingly shorter, possibly by years and years.
It is recommended that patients with posterior ischemia seek prompt medical attention and treatment under the supervision of a physician to try to obtain a better prognosis.