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Various complications can cause hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. The damage to your child’s brain from prolonged HIE is usually called “cerebral palsy”, and it will cause a lifetime of problems. While not all instances of HIE result from medical malpractice, if your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you should speak with a birth injury lawyer about your options.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a medical condition affecting the brain and organs. This medical term can be broken down into the following definitions:
HIE is a general term that describes a brain injury caused by an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to the victim’s brain.
Sometimes, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is referred to by other terms, including:
However, birth asphyxia only refers to a very narrow category of infants suffering from a brain injury.
Often, the exact cause of HIE is unknown. However, many problems during pregnancy and birth trauma during labor and delivery (also known as birth injury) can contribute to or cause HIE.
Some of the HIE-related potential problems during pregnancy include:
Some of the HIE-related problems that may arise during labor and delivery include:
HIE-related problems that may occur after delivery include:
HIE is relatively rare in full-term births. It occurs in roughly 0.3% to 2% of full-term, live birth infants. In premature, live birth infants, HIE is more common — it may occur in up to 60% of these cases.
There are three recognized categories of HIE: mild, moderate, and severe.
Some children with HIE will experience no significant health issues, while some may experience mild or moderate effects.
Severe handicaps may include:
Sometimes, it’s not only the brain affected by the lack of oxygen. If other organs suffer hypoxic damage, they often can return to normal functions. Therefore, hypoxic damage to the brain is the most damaging condition.
The symptoms of HIE are often correlated to its severity. However, there are signs and symptoms to look out for in three stages:
When a doctor fails to diagnose and prescribe treatment for HIE, it is considered medical malpractice, no matter the stage. Swift action is imperative in treating HIE. If a doctor has delayed identifying hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, your child has lost precious time to remedy the situation. The longer treatment is delayed, the higher the consequences, potentially resulting in 24/7 care.
Before birth, perinatal HIE symptoms may include:
Other signs of fetal distress can also indicate potential symptoms of HIE.
Directly following birth, neonatal HIE symptoms may include:
Your doctor may detect HIE years after birth. In this case, signs and symptoms may include:
There is currently no definitive treatment for infants diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Most treatments focus on supporting the baby’s affected organs. Some therapies and treatments for HIE may include:
Doctors most commonly diagnose HIE in infants. However, adults or children can sustain diseases or injuries that reduce oxygen flow to their brains, similar to a birth injury. HIE in adults and children is called global hypoxic-ischemic injury.
In adults and children, HIE can manifest after certain injuries that may reduce oxygen to the brain, including:
If your child is suffering from the effects of HIE, you should consult with a birth injury law firm about your legal options. Compensation from a birth injury lawsuit could help your baby have a better, more productive and safer life.
Relief may be available for costs related to:
HIE doesn’t only hurt the infant. Often, parents and familial caregivers endure unimaginable stress and hardships to offer their child the best life possible. Compensation can also reduce the pressure endured by the parents and other caregivers, allowing them to enjoy a more balanced life while receiving the support they need.
Birth injuries like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are complicated. They require an experienced birth injury lawyer with a track record of success in HIE cases. The birth injury legal team at D’Amore Personal Injury Law is here for you. We understand that HIE cases are traumatic for everyone involved. We are here to help you and your entire family get to a better life.
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Paul D’Amore spent ten years as a medical malpractice defense attorney before opening his own law firm to represent the other side – the patients and people affected by malpractice and personal injury.
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