Potential Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy-Related Neglect
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or HIE is a type of brain injury that comes from oxygen deprivation. When a child does not get enough oxygen in the brain, it can lead to different kinds of congenital disorders. As HIE puts the brain in a state of hunger for oxygen, it will start going to a type of shutdown.
Intrapartum asphyxia or oxygen deprivation in the brain can be problematic. The last thing those looking forward to their bundle of joy want is for the child to have congenital issues. With the help of competent doctors, you can prevent or address this issue early on.
What Causes HIE?
When it comes to causes of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, there are a ton of potential issues.
For starters, would-be parents who have high-risk pregnancies are more prone to a potential HIE. High-risk pregnancy conditions are those who have secondary complications while carrying their child.
A pregnancy is considering high-risk if the person has:
- Gestational diabetes
- High blood pressure and preeclampsia
- HELLP syndrome
- Placental abruption
- Maternal obesity
- High maternal age
- Multiple pregnancies
- C-section and twins/triplets etc.
- Health and lifestyle conditions
Other potential causes of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy include labor complications and delivery issues. Medical malpractice is also a common cause of HIE, both before and during the delivery.
Signs and Symptoms of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
There’s a laundry list of potential issues, considering the child is experiencing a lack of oxygen supply.
For instance, breathing issues and resuscitation likely comes from HIE. A low Apgar score can also relate to this condition. The Apgar score tests the overall health of a newborn child – from color, complexion, reflexes, and pulse rate, among others.
Abnormal neonatal reflexes and seizures after birth harken to potential brain damage in the child. Sluggish responses to stimuli can be a sign of HIE as well. Additionally, multiple organ issues come from cell death during the time that the body lacked oxygen.
Testing HIE-Related Complications
How do doctors find out about HIE-related symptoms during the pregnancy? Confirmatory testing and neuroimaging can help with everything the mother needs.
CT scans, PET scans, and MRIs can give a quick check into the body. Blood glucose tests, umbilical cord, and arterial blood gas tests are mildly invasive but offer excellent results.
If the mother had to take part in a traumatic delivery, oxygen deprivation is a modern cause of the problem.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is one of the most preventable conditions if the doctor does proper monitoring. At the same time, it’s also the condition that can result from even the medical practitioner’s slightest errors.
Errors in anesthesia administration and fetal stroke are common causes of HIE-related malpractice. Birth trauma, C-section errors, delays, and forceps and vacuum extractor injuries are other common causes.
The issue with HIE is the window between learning of a potential problem and what happens after the discovery. Cases like neonatal breathing mismanagement and umbilical cord issues are preventable with the right doctor.
Is HIE Preventable?
Like most congenital issues, HIE is preventable if there is proper maternal monitoring for the mother. Careful monitoring and on-time intervention can avoid or resolve most issues that come with this condition.
Unfortunately, not all doctors are competent, and medical professionals have the potential to miss a proper diagnosis that could prevent HIE. The negligent acts of some practitioners can also lead to encephalopathy.
The potential for causing HIE is high because there are too many potential avenues for negligence. The most reasonable way of preventing HIE is to allow careful monitoring throughout the pregnancy.
First, close monitoring of the mother and baby is crucial. This process will allow doctors to see potential fetal distress and recognize it early.
The other area of prevention refers to fast and precise delivery of the baby when potential fetal distress is possible.
During the pregnancy, the mother needs to do regular prenatal tests to ensure the health of the fetus.
Find a Malpractice Attorney to Help Against HIE-related Neglect
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a preventable condition. With the right doctor and due diligence, expectant mothers should not be afraid of delivering a new life in this world.
Unfortunately, not all doctors are the same. Some may perform malpractice or commit negligence in taking care of their patients. When this happens, it’s crucial to get legal help to ensure you get the justice and the compensation the mother and the child deserve.
HIE-related cases need extensive research and a good understanding of the law. Talk to the right birth injury attorney today. Find out how The Clark Law Office can help with your claim.