When a baby doesn’t get enough oxygen and/or blood flow before, during, or shortly after birth, it causes a condition known as Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). When brain cells don’t get enough oxygen, they can be injured or die. The damage can spread over time, leading to a lifetime of problems.
Cases of HIE can range from mild to severe, but even in mild cases, the injuries can be long-term. In severe cases, these injuries may require a lifetime of treatment, therapy, and care.
Symptoms
- Seizures or abnormal jerking movements
- Weak muscle tone (too “floppy”) or unusually stiff muscles
- Trouble breathing, needing extra oxygen, or a ventilator
- Poor feeding, weak suck, or vomiting
- Low responsiveness, extreme sleepiness, or difficulty waking
- Abnormal reflexes or unusual eye movements
- Signs of organ stress (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver) in more severe cases
Although it’s a very serious condition, many symptoms of HIE are the same as those of other neonatal injuries. These symptoms may be related to a less severe injury, but are actually signs of HIE.
That’s why it’s critical that healthcare staff carefully monitor newborns with HIE symptoms to make sure they’re treated properly.
What causes HIE?
HIE can be caused at any point before, during, or shortly after birth when oxygen and/or blood flow drop too low and cause injury to the brain. In some cases, there is a clear event that happens that causes the problems. In other cases, it’s not so obvious, but how the situation is handled is still very important.
During labor and delivery, emergencies may occur that rapidly reduce oxygen and blood flow. These can include issues with the umbilical cord, uterine rupture, and placental abruption. In difficult births, the baby can experience severe oxygen deprivation or serious problems with their heart or lungs.
In some cases, infections have been linked to blood and oxygen issues in newborns.
Serious injuries caused by HIE
HIE is known to cause severe cases of brain damage that lead to a lifetime of issues with communication, movement, and learning. Depending on the part of the brain that is injured, children may have trouble with speech and language, memory and attention problems, behavioral issues, or experience cognitive delays.
Many of those issues have also been linked to cerebral palsy, which can be caused by HIE.
HIE has been linked to seizures and epilepsy, which may require specialized care and medication to treat. HIE is also known to cause injuries to multiple organs, which can be life-threatening.
Many of the injuries caused by HIE require families to seek long-term support for therapy, medical visits, equipment needs, and special education support.
How does medical malpractice make HIE worse?
While HIE isn’t always preventable, missed signs of fetal distress or failure to act quickly can allow HIE to develop. Healthcare staff have a duty and responsibility to monitor symptoms closely and respond promptly when treatments, such as delivering oxygen, are necessary.
Staff who don’t communicate clearly, respond to complications, or fail to recognize emergencies can lead to costly delays. When every second matters, a preventable delay can turn a normally reversible oxygen issue into a long-term brain injury.
After birth, staff must continue to properly monitor the baby if any symptoms of HIE have been noticed. This includes making sure the baby is properly warmed, if necessary, and administering other time-sensitive treatments.
The most severe cases of HIE can permanently change the lives of you and your baby, leading to years of treatment, therapy, medication, and more. If your newborn has been diagnosed with HIE and you suspect a medical mistake was involved, don’t wait another day to contact Weisser Law.
Our experienced team will carefully review your medical records, listen to your story, and give you a realistic expectation of what options you have and what they might be worth.
Serious injuries demand serious representation. With over 50 years of experience in courtrooms across Florida, the team at Weisser Law has the reputation and record you need to secure every dollar of compensation you deserve. Weisser Law, where exceptional experience means exceptional results.