It takes only four minutes of lack of oxygen for brain cells to die. Hypoxia occurs when an infant is deprived of sufficient oxygen during the birthing process. Anoxia is a more severe form of hypoxia and occurs when the infant is totally deprived of oxygen. Anoxic trauma can result in severe brain damage and lead to cerebral palsy and a host of other medical conditions.
Effects of Anoxic Brain Injury
The human body generally responds to anoxic trauma by increasing blood flow to the brain. It does so in an attempt to restore sufficient supply of oxygen. However, the body can only increase brain flood flow to about twice the normal level. If this is not sufficient to compensate for the anoxia, brain function will be disrupted and you will immediately notice symptoms of anoxia.
In some cases, there may be no symptoms at all at the time of delivery. The signs of brain damage may start to appear later. Your baby may not be hitting his or her milestones. Your baby may start rolling over or talking later than average. In such cases, you will need to work with your child’s pediatrician to track his or her progress and determine whether there may be a developmental disability indicative of brain damage.
Predicting the Outcome of Anoxic Trauma
Infants who have suffered anoxic trauma will often have extensive damage. As such, complete recovery is not assured. Predicting the outcome of anoxic brain injury is somewhat like estimating how high a rocket will go. There are some general factors that are helpful in making initial forecasts, but the actual course of the rocket also depends on real-world conditions and other unforeseeable factors.
Similarly with anoxia, it is hard to predict what the outcome will be. Nonetheless, there are some clues that can clearly offer a bit of guidance in judging the likelihood of at least a partial recovery. Some clues include:
- The length of time of the oxygen deprivation
- The result of MRI or CT scans
- Visual clues
- EEG or Eps results
Call an NYC Anoxic Brain Injury Attorney
If you suspect that your child has suffered anoxic brain injury as a result of medical negligence, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Although filing a legal claim against the liable parties will not undo the harm caused to your baby, it will get the help you obtain the compensation you need to get the medical treatment that your child needs.
For more information or to consult with an experienced New York medical malpractice attorney, please call Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. at 800-529-9997.
