Michigan Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) Attorneys and Lawyers
At Michigan Cerebral Palsy Attorneys, our award-winning Michigan HIE attorneys continually secure multimillion dollar settlements for children with a variety of birth injuries. With nearly sixty years of joint experience in the field of birth trauma law, our Michigan HIE attorneys have the skills and knowledge necessary to win complicated, high-stakes cases related to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, infant brain damage, and traumatic birth injuries.
Throughout this article, our Michigan HIE attorneys will explain hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and discuss new and old treatments for the dangerous neonatal brain injury. If you have a questions or case inquiries, we urge you to reach out for a free legal consultation with our Michigan hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy attorneys. Our legal and medical team will review your case for free and, should we accept your case, you will not be charged until we win or settle in your favor. To contact our Michigan HIE attorneys, you may fill out this online form or call our offices toll-free at (888) 592-1857.
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): The Basics
What Is Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy?
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, also known as neonatal encephalopathy, birth asphyxia, or intrapartum asphyxia, is a dangerous neonatal brain injury that results from fetal oxygen deprivation. Most commonly happening around the time of delivery, HIE occurs as the result of oxygen shortages in the baby’s blood and tissues. In order to avoid a hypoxic ischemic event, medical professionals are obligated to pay close attention to signs of fetal oxygen deprivation around the time of labor and delivery. When fetal distress is evident on the fetal heart monitor, medical professionals must respond quickly and ensure the baby is delivered immediately. Failure to quickly deliver a baby in distress often leads to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and related injuries.
What Causes Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy?
Because hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is the result of fetal oxygen deprivation, any complication or scenario that limits oxygen flow to the baby can cause HIE. Below our Michigan HIE attorneys list some of the known causes of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. To read more about the various causes and risk factors for HIE, visit this page.
- Umbilical cord complications (nuchal cords, umbilical cord prolapse, umbilical cord compression, short or long umbilical cord length, or true knots)
- Head trauma (intracranial hemorrhages) from prolonged or difficult labor. Head trauma may result from size and presentation abnormalities (such as macrosomia, cephalopelvic disproportion, shoulder dystocia, face presentation, or breech presentation), uterine hyperstimulation, Pitocin or Cytotec misuse, or the misuse of forceps or vacuum extractors.
- Maternal infections
- C-section mistakes (particularly the failure to deliver a baby quickly with a C-section)
- Premature birth
- Oligohydramnios
- Placental insufficiency
- Uterine rupture
- Placental abruption
Michigan HIE Attorneys Explain Treatments for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Current Treatments for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypothermia treatment is currently the only procedure known to treat hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Also known as brain cooling, hypothermia treatment consists of lowering a newborn’s body temperature down to around 91 degrees Fahrenheit for roughly 72 hours. Lowering the baby’s core body temperature slows his or her metabolic rate, thereby allowing cells to recover over a longer period of time. Unfortunately, hypothermia treatment has a few strict indications that prevent a lot of babies from receiving the treatment. Indications for hypothermia treatment vary by hospital, but most require infants to meet the following standards before undergoing the procedure:
- Neurological tests must confirm the presence of seizures or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in the baby
- The baby must be older than 36 weeks
- The newborn baby must receive the treatment within a six hour window of the hypoxic ischemic event
- Umbilical cord arterial blood tests must indicate specific pH levels—read more about these here
When performed properly and on time, hypothermia treatment can make a vast difference in the long-term health of a baby with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Medical professionals are obligated to quickly diagnose HIE and begin hypothermia treatment in order to decrease the severity of the brain injury. The sooner the baby receives hypothermia treatment, the less likely he or she is to develop permanent brain damage with resultant disabilities. Failure to perform hypothermia treatment on an eligible newborn is negligence, and when negligence leads to permanent injuries or disabilities, it is medical malpractice.
Video: Hypothermia Treatment for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
Researching New Treatments for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): Michigan HIE Attorneys Discuss Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, Neonatal Seizures, and Cannabidiol
As our Michigan HIE attorneys discussed in the previous section, currently the only known treatment for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is the hypothermia treatment. However, an exciting new prospect is on the horizon for HIE treatment. Last month, the US Food and Drug Administration authorized the development of cannabidiol for the purposes of treating hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Cannabidiol, a nonpsychoactive part of the cannabis plant, is known to have neuroprotective and anti-ischemic properties in animal and human research studies. In studies of animals with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, cannabidiol was found to positively benefit several bodily systems and reduce short-term brain damage.
Additionally, cannabidiol has been used in research directed towards treating infant, pediatric, and adult seizures. Cannabidiol has shown promising enough results in the treatment of seizures that the drug is now being used in placebo-controlled research studies. Because HIE can cause seizures and seizure activity can worsen brain damage, cannabidiol research for seizures and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy will likely be beneficial for the treatment of both health problems.
Michigan HIE Attorneys Helping Victims of Medical Malpractice
If your loved one was diagnosed with a permanent injury or disability related to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy or hypothermia treatment, he or she may be entitled to a medical malpractice or personal injury claim. The highly regarded Michigan HIE attorneys at our birth injury law firm will provide you with a free legal consultation and inform you of your legal options. Consistently winning multimillion dollar settlements, our legal team helps their Michigan clients secure the funds necessary to afford treatment, therapy, and lifestyle supports. To learn more about your legal options, contact Michigan Cerebral Palsy Attorneys today. Our Michigan HIE attorneys are available to speak 24/7—you may call our offices toll-free at (888) 592-1857, fill out this online contact form, or press the Live Chat tab to the left.