A dangerous type of newborn injury, Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) affects the white matter in a baby’s brain. White matter is tissue that helps the brain send signals for movement, coordination, and other functions.
Because PVL can impact so many critical functions of the brain, it carries a significant risk of long-term injury that can require lifelong treatment or therapy. PVL is often connected to babies with low-birth weight or who are premature.
Symptoms
In many cases, symptoms of PVL don’t present for months or years and are overlooked until the child starts showing signs of issues. PVL injuries can impact the physical and mental development of the child. That includes:
- Stiff muscles, especially in the legs
- Trouble with staying coordinated
- Abnormal muscle tone
- Delayed milestones like rolling, sitting, talking
- Cognitive issues as the child gets older
- Vision impairment
What are the causes of PVL?
PVL is typically linked to issues during birth that involve oxygen or blood flow to the brain; some complications during pregnancy can contribute. PVL is caused when the white matter around the brain’s ventricles is damaged.
Premature birth and those with low-birth weight are known to be at risk for PVL, especially babies that are very preterm. If the baby suffered from any sort of low oxygen or blood flow levels during or after the birth, the risk of PVL increases.
Bleeding near or in the brain’s ventricles is also linked to the cases of PVL. In some instances, an infection or inflammation in the mother during pregnancy can also raise the risk; your medical records should indicate whether these issues were noted and treated.
What serious injuries can be caused by PVL?
PVL injuries can range from mild to severe and may last a lifetime. Serious cases of PVL are commonly linked to neurologic and developmental disabilities.
One of those disabilities is Cerebral palsy, which can involve a wide range of brain injuries.PVL can also impair fine and/or gross motor skills. Injuries to motor skills can dramatically alter a child’s life. Vision problems have also been linked to PVL.
The child may also have developmental disabilities that make it hard for them to learn.
How does medical malpractice contribute to PVL?
Although PVL isn’t always preventable, medical mistakes increase the risk that those injuries will worsen. Negligence by the medical staff throughout the pregnancy can cause oxygen deprivation, unstable blood flow, infection, delayed treatment, or other issues that are known to contribute to brain injuries in newborns.
Before delivery, staff may fail to recognize signs of distress in the fetus, which may lead to a delayed decision when an urgent delivery is necessary. Staff may also fail to notice or treat infections in the mother.
During delivery, staff may delay resuscitation or airway support when every second matters. The team may fail to stabilize the newborn’s oxygenation and blood pressure. Staff may also fail to communicate effectively when the baby shows signs of distress.
After birth or while the child is in the NICU, oxygen levels and vital signs must be closely monitored. Responses to issues with bleeding, infection, or respiratory failure must be addressed quickly, or they risk causing oxygen deprivation or blood flow problems.
If your child suffered injuries related to PVL, and you suspect a medical error was made, you need to contact the professionals at Weisser Law today. Our expert team will take a deep look into your medical care to make sure that a mistake by the healthcare team did not change the course of your child’s life.
When someone else’s mistake changes your life, you deserve a legal team that truly understands your case and the laws involved. And you shouldn’t have to carry the burden alone. Weisser Law is committed to guiding you through every step of the process with the care you need and the strength necessary to win your case.