Massachusetts Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Causes and Treatment of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy among Infants

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is a serious injury that affects thousands of infants in the United States every year.  It is an injury that damages the cells in the central nervous system and can lead to a more permanent condition.

Doctors and hospitals sometimes make mistakes that can greatly impact an expecting mother and unborn child.  These errors can cause birth injuries, which result in developmental delay, mental retardation and cerebral palsy.  Specifically, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy occurs when the brain is deprived of the necessary oxygen.  Lack of oxygen to the brain can cause substantial damage to the delicate brain tissue.

There are many things that can go wrong during the labor and delivery process.  When a C-section is delayed, the baby remains in the birth canal too long, the fetal heartbeat is misread or the doctor and hospital staff do not act in a timely manner, it can result in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.  This type of injury is usually identified immediately following birth, as there may be various symptoms including, coma, loss of brainstem signs, loss of deep tendon reflexes or seizures.

The treatment for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy depends on the damage to the brain.  Some of the treatments for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy include life-sustaining treatment, mechanical ventilation, control of blood pressure, maintenance of the heart function, medication or general anesthesia to control seizures and cooling blankets to reduce the body temperature.

Many times, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy could have been prevented.  If your baby was injured during birth, contact an experienced Massachusetts birth injury attorney for legal advice.  Doctors and hospitals can be held liable for serious birth injuries, such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.  Call Kiley Law Group at (800) 930-8145 for a free consultation regarding your case. 

The article, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, has more information on this topic.