Professor Song Haiqing: Acute Stroke and Post-Stroke Brain Health Specialist
Professor Song Haiqing is a senior neurologist, professor, doctoral supervisor, deputy director of the Department of Neurology at Xuanwu Hospital, and an academic leader in cerebrovascular disease. His clinical and research work focuses on acute ischemic stroke, intravenous thrombolysis, cerebral small-vessel disease, post-stroke cognitive impairment, depression, sleep disorders, and neuromodulation.
International patients can learn more about the hospital and neurological services in our Xuanwu Hospital international patient guide. Related profiles include Professor Hao Junwei in neuroimmunology and Professor Wu Liyong in cognitive neurology.
Clinical and Academic Focus
- acute ischemic stroke;
- intravenous thrombolysis;
- secondary stroke prevention;
- cerebral small-vessel disease;
- post-stroke cognitive impairment;
- post-stroke depression and anxiety;
- sleep disorders after stroke;
- neuromodulation and rehabilitation; and
- second opinions on complex stroke recovery.
Acute Ischemic Stroke
An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain becomes blocked. Sudden facial droop, arm or leg weakness, speech difficulty, vision loss, severe imbalance, or confusion requires immediate local emergency care.
Treatment is time-sensitive. Brain imaging determines whether symptoms are caused by bleeding, ischemia, or another condition and helps assess eligibility for intravenous thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy.
International travel must never delay emergency stroke treatment. Specialist consultation in China is more appropriate after stabilization or for planned second-opinion and rehabilitation review.
Intravenous Thrombolysis
Intravenous thrombolysis uses medication to dissolve a clot in selected patients with acute ischemic stroke. Eligibility depends on symptom onset or last-known-well time, brain imaging, blood pressure, bleeding risk, recent surgery, anticoagulant use, and other clinical factors.
Professor Song has led multicenter clinical research evaluating thrombolytic medicines, including a phase 3 randomized trial comparing pro-urokinase with alteplase within 4.5 hours of stroke onset.
No thrombolytic medicine is suitable for every patient. Treatment decisions must follow emergency imaging and assessment by a qualified stroke team.
Secondary Stroke Prevention
After stabilization, prevention should address the cause of the stroke. Evaluation may include head and neck vessel imaging, prolonged rhythm monitoring, echocardiography, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, sleep apnea, and selected clotting or inflammatory tests.
Treatment can include antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication, cholesterol and blood-pressure management, carotid or intracranial intervention in selected cases, and lifestyle changes.
Cerebral Small-Vessel Disease
Small-vessel disease can appear on MRI as white-matter change, lacunes, microbleeds, enlarged perivascular spaces, or brain atrophy. It may contribute to stroke, gait difficulty, mood change, urinary symptoms, and cognitive decline.
MRI findings must be interpreted with age, symptoms, blood pressure, vascular risks, and neurological examination. White-matter changes alone do not establish the cause of every cognitive complaint.
Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment
Stroke can affect attention, memory, language, processing speed, judgment, and executive function. Assessment should consider the stroke location, pre-stroke cognition, mood, sleep, medication, hearing, vision, and other neurological disease.
Management can include vascular-risk control, cognitive rehabilitation, occupational therapy, family education, and treatment of contributing depression or sleep disorder.
Depression and Sleep Disorders After Stroke
Post-stroke depression is common and can reduce participation in rehabilitation. Symptoms may include persistent low mood, loss of interest, sleep or appetite change, hopelessness, and unexplained slowing.
Sleep apnea, insomnia, excessive sleepiness, restless legs, and disrupted sleep-wake rhythm can also affect recovery and recurrent-stroke risk. These problems deserve active assessment rather than being dismissed as an inevitable consequence of stroke.
Who May Consider a Consultation?
- stable patients needing review after an ischemic stroke or TIA;
- patients with recurrent stroke despite preventive treatment;
- patients with uncertain stroke cause;
- patients with extensive cerebral small-vessel disease;
- patients with cognitive decline after stroke;
- patients with depression, anxiety, or sleep problems affecting recovery;
- patients needing an integrated rehabilitation and prevention plan; or
- patients seeking a second opinion on long-term cerebrovascular management.
Medical Records to Prepare
- a precise stroke timeline and emergency treatment record;
- brain CT and MRI in original DICOM format;
- CT, MR, or catheter angiography of the head and neck;
- thrombolysis or thrombectomy procedure records;
- ECGs, prolonged rhythm monitoring, and echocardiography;
- blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and coagulation results;
- cognitive, mood, sleep, and rehabilitation assessments;
- current function in walking, speech, swallowing, and daily activities;
- a complete medication list; and
- a clear list of recovery and prevention goals.
Planning an International Consultation
Any new stroke symptom requires immediate local emergency assessment, even if it resolves. Stable patients should confirm whether original imaging and treatment records can be reviewed.
Remote medical-record review requires physician authorization. Final recommendations may require in-person neurological examination, repeat imaging, vascular studies, and rehabilitation assessment.
How CMCS Can Assist
CMCS – China Medical Concierge Shanghai is an independent medical concierge and health management company, not a hospital. We assist international patients and families with organizing and translating stroke records, identifying an appropriate specialist, requesting appointment availability, arranging interpretation, and planning medical travel in China.
Access to Professor Song, remote review, admission, testing, or a particular treatment is subject to doctor and hospital approval. CMCS does not guarantee appointments, treatment eligibility, or clinical outcomes.
- Email: contract@medicalsh.com
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Important Note
Doctor titles, clinical roles, testing, treatment availability, and appointment arrangements may change. This profile is based on the supplied verified research document and is for general information only. It does not replace assessment by a qualified stroke team.
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