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A Birth Trauma Lawyer can Help you Discover What Happened.
It is also essential to get professional help from a birth injury lawyer if your child has HIE. In many cases of HIE, the cause can be traced to medical malpractice.
A medical professional’s failure to uphold the standard of care may have caused your child’s condition. If this is the case, we will help you through the legal process of filing a birth injury case.
Malpractice happens when doctors or healthcare providers responsible for the safe delivery of your child make a mistake.
The Treatment of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Infants with HIE require neonatal intensive care and typically spend several weeks in the NICU. A baby with HIE may be transferred, via ambulance or life flight, from the hospital where the birth occurred to a higher-level NICU if the birth hospital does not have a high-level NICU.
The only effective treatment for HIE is to lower the newborn baby’s brain temperature. Cooling techniques include either a cooling blanket for whole-body cooling or a selective head cooling protocol.
The lowered body temperature (hypothermia) is maintained for up to the first 72 hours of life. It is followed by a rewarming phase, during which time the baby’s seizure activity may increase. Once the baby’s body temperature rises to normal, the baby undergoes a brain MRI to look for signs of brain damage.
Clinical trials have shown that for every degree a baby’s body temperature is lowered, the baby’s brain and body functions slow down by 10 to 15 percent.
Cooling Techniques
The only effective treatment for HIE is to lower the newborn baby’s brain temperature. Cooling techniques include either a cooling blanket for whole-body cooling or a selective head cooling protocol.
Lowered Body Temperature
The lowered body temperature (hypothermia) is maintained for up to the first 72 hours of life. It is followed by a rewarming phase, during which time baby seizure activity may increase. Once the baby’s body temperature rises to normal, the baby undergoes a brain MRI to look for signs of brain damage.
Children affected by HIE may experience developmental delays or disabilities as they grow. These delays or disabilities may include cognitive impairments, motor function difficulties, and speech and language issues.
Seeking care and support for your child with HIE
Specific Treatments Can Improve a Child’s Prognosis
Although there is no cure for HIE, certain treatments can significantly improve a child’s prognosis.
Following discharge from NICU, treatment is based on the specific symptoms of the infant and may include:
- oxygen therapy
- anti-seizure medications
- muscle relaxant medications
- possibly surgery
From infancy onward, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, clinical nutrition therapy, customized, durable medical equipment, and individualized learning programs can support their growth and development.
Birth Injury FAQs
What is HIE?
HIE, or Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy, is a serious medical condition that occurs when the brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen and blood flow. This lack of oxygen and nutrients can result in brain damage, and in severe cases, it may lead to long-term physical or cognitive disabilities. HIE is most commonly seen in newborns, but it can also occur due to medical emergencies in older children or adults.
What Causes HIE?
HIE typically happens during or shortly after childbirth. Key causes include:
- Oxygen deprivation during labor and delivery (e.g., umbilical cord problems, placental abruption, or uterine rupture).
- Reduced blood flow to the baby’s brain due to complications such as low maternal blood pressure or prolonged labor.
- Medical complications, such as a severe infection, hemorrhage or cardiac arrest affecting the baby, the mother, or both of them.
For adults, HIE can arise from events like heart attack, stroke, or respiratory failure.
What are symptoms of HIE in Newborns?
Symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the condition:
- Mild Cases may show subtle signs like low muscle tone or difficulty feeding.
- Moderate Cases might involve seizures in newborns (also called neonatal seizures, or baby seizures), breathing problems, or difficulty responding to stimuli.
- Severe Cases can include organ dysfunction, severe seizures, loss of vison, loss of hearing, or lack of consciousness.
If you notice any of these signs, seek immediate medical attention. Early detection is crucial.
What are Potential Long-Term Effects of HIE?
The outcomes of HIE depend on how long the brain was deprived of oxygen and the timeliness of intervention. Some possible long-term effects include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Developmental delays
- Epilepsy
- Learning disabilities or cognitive impairments
While not every case of HIE leads to lasting effects, the impact can be profound in cases of severe oxygen deprivation.
What are Treatment Options for HIE?
There is no universal treatment for reversing brain damage caused by HIE, but immediate medical interventions can minimize its effects:
- Therapeutic Hypothermia (Cooling Therapy): For newborns, cooling the body temperature shortly after birth can reduce further brain injury.
- Medications: To manage seizures or other secondary complications.
- Rehabilitation Therapies: Physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy can help manage long-term challenges.
