Maryland Intracranial Hemorrhages Lawyer
Childbirth has gotten easier over time, but it still comes with dangers. One common complication that may occur is an intracranial hemorrhage, also known as a brain bleed. This occurs when blood vessels break and bleed into the brain tissue. The location of the brain bleed determines how serious the injury will be.
If your baby has suffered an intracranial hemorrhage, you may have a case against the negligent doctor. Contact the Maryland intracranial hemorrhages lawyer at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman to get more information about your legal rights.
Knowing that a baby has a brain bleed can be frightening for the parents. A brain bleed can range from minor to life-threatening. Brain bleeds can happen to all babies, but premature babies are especially at risk due to the immaturity of their circulation. Deliveries that use a vacuum or forceps increase the risk of a brain bleed. If both are used, there is almost a 100% chance of medical malpractice.
When vacuum or forceps are used during delivery, the pediatrician should be informed so they can monitor the baby and check for any head swelling. This can be a sign of a brain bleed.
Types of Intracranial Hemorrhages
Intracranial hemorrhages can happen in various areas inside and outside the brain. There are several types of brain bleeds that can happen outside the brain:
- Epidural bleed. This type of bleed happens between the skull bone and the brain’s outermost membrane, the dura mater.
- Subdural bleed. This hemorrhage occurs between the dura mater and the arachnoid membrane.
- Subarachnoid bleed. This is a bleed that happens between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater.
Brain bleeds can also occur inside the brain:
- Intracerebral hemorrhage. This bleeding occurs anywhere within the brain tissue itself, including the brainstem, cerebellum, and in the lobes and pons.
- Intraventricular hemorrhage. This type of bleeding happens in the cavities of the brain, called the ventricles.
Risk Factors
Common risk factors and causes of intracranial hemorrhages in babies include:
- Macrosomia. When the baby is larger than average, vaginal birth can become dangerous.
- Prematurity. The blood vessels in premature babies are underdeveloped and therefore very fragile.
- Cephalopelvic disproportion. This refers to a size mismatch between the baby’s head and the mother’s pelvis.
- Trauma from prolonged labor. Doctors may use forceps or vacuum extractors to move the delivery along, causing damage to the baby’s head.
- Blood disorders. Vitamin K deficiency and hemophilia can cause brain bleeds.
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Decreased oxygen and blood flow to the baby can destroy blood vessels, leading to bleeding.
Contact Us Today
Intracranial hemorrhages can range from mild to severe. They can cause long-term effects that can affect the baby mentally and physically.
These brain bleeds can be caused by a medical provider’s negligence. Make sure you get the compensation you deserve for your damages. The personal injury attorneys at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman can help. Call our office today at (410) 567-0800 to schedule a free consultation.
