New Study: Cooling Babies May Help Prevent Brain Damage

It’s common knowledge that babies who are deprived of oxygen at birth suffer an increased chance of severe brain damage. This damage can result in a permanent decrease in potential IQ as the child grows older, and, in some cases, it can even result in conditions such as cerebral palsy or death.

A recent BBC report describes a new study released by the New England Journal of Medicine that found that cooling babies who suffered oxygen deprivation immediately after birth decreases the chances of the long-term consequences of oxygen deprivation.

Evidently, the study looked at babies who were placed on a cooling mat at 33 degrees Centigrade for three days immediately after they were born. It also considered a control group of babies who were treated using the traditional methods. After waiting several years, the study reexamined the children and tested them for the following:

• IQ scores
• Memory power
• Attention spans
• Signs of disability

The results were staggering. Of the babies who were cooled, 45% of them did not suffer any brain injury at all. That is compared to 28% who did not suffer any injury when the standard treatment was used. Furthermore, only 21% of the cooled babies developed cerebral palsy, whereas 36% of the control-group babies developed cerebral palsy.

Oxygen Deprivation at Birth
Sadly, oxygen deprivation at birth is something that is not all that uncommon in even the most sophisticated hospitals. For example, in the study mentioned above, the authors claim that one in 500 babies suffer from some level of oxygen deprivation.

The reasons for oxygen deprivation at birth can vary. However, several of the causes have to do with doctors and nurses failing to do their jobs properly. When this occurs, the baby’s life is put into jeopardy, not just at that moment but in the future as well. In fact, several of the long-term effects of oxygen deprivation do not become apparent until later in the child’s life.

When these tragedies occur, the family of the child may want answers from the doctors, nurses, and hospital that may have caused their child to suffer these injuries. Thankfully, Maryland law allows for these families to seek compensation for the injuries their child sustained. To learn more about how to recover for this kind of birth injury, speak to a dedicated birth injury attorney today.

Was Your Child Injured During the Birthing Procedure?

If you or your child was injured during the birthing procedure, and you believe it was due to the negligence of the hospital, doctors, or nurses who were assisting you with the birth, you may be entitled to monetary damages. To learn more about the laws that allow families to recover for this type of injury, and to speak to a dedicated birth injury attorney about your case, contact the Maryland malpractice law firm of Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman. The dedicated attorneys at WVF know what it takes to bring a successful lawsuit in the State of Maryland and would be happy to speak with you about your case. Click here or call (410) 567-0800 to schedule a free initial consultation.