Baltimore Intracranial Hemorrhages Lawyer
An intracranial hemorrhage is a brain bleed that is often caused by a birth injury that occurs before, during, or after childbirth. A newborn can suffer from many different birth injuries during the birthing process and they can range from minor to severe. Intracranial hemorrhages are one of the more serious birth injuries an infant can sustain and they must be treated as soon as possible to reduce the risk of harm to the child. If your child has suffered an intracranial hemorrhage as a result of medical negligence, our Baltimore intracranial hemorrhages lawyer can advise on your case.
Common Types of Intracranial Hemorrhages
The term ‘intracranial hemorrhage’ refers to a very serious brain bleed, but there are many different types of this injury. The most common types of intracranial hemorrhages include:
- Hemorrhagic stroke: When a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, it deprives the brain of nutrients and oxygen. Hemorrhagic strokes are categorized as either subarachnoid or intracerebral.
- Subdural hematoma or hemorrhage: The subdural portion of the brain is the area between the arachnoid membranes and the dura, which allows the brain tissue to compress. When the blood vessels in this area of the brain rupture, it results in a subdural hematoma or hemorrhage. This type of injury is usually caused by traumatic injuries during the birthing process.
- Intraventricular hemorrhage: An intraventricular hemorrhage occurs when the blood vessels in the ventricular system of the brain rupture. This injury usually happens in infants who are born prematurely or with a low birth weight because their blood vessels have not yet fully developed.
Causes of Intracranial Hemorrhages
A brain hemorrhage can happen to anyone, but when they occur in newborns, it is often a case of medical malpractice. Brain bleeds that occur at birth have many different causes, but the most common is trauma to the head. For example, if a doctor dropped the baby just after delivering it, that could result in a brain bleed. Also, if a doctor used forceps or a vacuum extractor improperly, that can also result in trauma that causes an intracranial hemorrhage.
Signs of an Intracranial Hemorrhage
It is not always easy to determine when a newborn is suffering from an intracranial hemorrhage because they cannot communicate their symptoms in the same manner as adults. For this reason, it is important that parents know the signs of an intracranial hemorrhage so they can get their newborn the immediate treatment they need. The most common signs of a brain bleed are as follows:
- Lethargy
- Difficulty sucking or swallowing
- Difficulty feeding
- Nausea or vomiting
- Irritability
- Weakness in the leg or arm
- Seizures
Doctors should also be able to immediately recognize the signs of an intracranial hemorrhage so they can provide the child with the appropriate treatment.
Our Birth Injury Lawyers in Baltimore Can Help After an Intracranial Hemorrhage
If your child has suffered an intracranial hemorrhage, our Baltimore birth injury lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, will ensure your rights are upheld. We know how to prove medical negligence so you recover the full financial compensation you are entitled to. Call us today at 410.567.0800 or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case.
