The mildest form, caused by a reduced level of oxygen in the blood that leads to a mild to moderate decline in brain function. It is often not life threatening, but it still deserves prompt attention.
When the Brain is Deprived of Oxygen
The brain depends on a constant supply of oxygen to function, and even a brief interruption can cause lasting harm. If your loved one suffered a brain injury after being deprived of oxygen, this page is here to help you understand what happened, why it may have occurred, and what options your family may have.
What is a lack of oxygen brain injury?
A lack of oxygen brain injury occurs when the flow of oxygen to the brain is reduced or cut off. When the brain receives some oxygen but not enough, the condition is called cerebral hypoxia. When the brain is deprived of oxygen entirely, it is called cerebral anoxia. Both are serious and can be life threatening, because brain cells are extremely sensitive to any disruption in their oxygen supply and can begin to die within minutes.
These injuries can affect anyone, from a newborn deprived of oxygen during delivery to an adult who experiences cardiac arrest, a stroke, or a complication during surgery. The effects depend largely on how long the brain went without adequate oxygen and how quickly the person received care.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms range from mild and temporary to severe and permanent. Milder cases of oxygen deprivation may cause:
- Changes in attention or difficulty concentrating
- Poor judgment or confusion
- Loss of coordination or clumsy movement
- Memory problems
More severe oxygen deprivation can lead to:
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Slowed, shallow, or absent breathing
- Pupils that do not respond to light
- Coma, and in the most serious cases, brain death
What causes oxygen deprivation to the brain?
A lack of oxygen to the brain can result from many different events, some medical and some accidental. Common causes include:
- Cardiac arrest or a serious heart rhythm problem
- Stroke
- Choking or suffocation
- Drowning or near-drowning
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Complications from general anesthesia
- Respiratory failure
- Drug overdose
- Dangerously low blood pressure
- Oxygen deprivation before, during, or shortly after birth
When a lack of oxygen brain injury may be medical malpractice
Not every lack of oxygen brain injury is the result of medical negligence. Many happen despite attentive, careful medical care. In some situations, however, the injury may have been preventable, and the outcome may point to a failure to meet the accepted standard of care. Scenarios that may point to negligence include:
- Failure to monitor a patient’s oxygen levels or vital signs during surgery, anesthesia, or recovery
- Anesthesia errors, including improper airway management or incorrect dosing
- Delayed recognition or treatment of cardiac or respiratory distress
- Failure to diagnose or promptly treat a stroke
- Errors during labor and delivery, such as a delayed cesarean section or a failure to respond to signs of fetal distress
- Medication mistakes that suppress breathing
- Delayed or inadequate resuscitation
Determining whether negligence played a role requires a careful review of the medical records and input from qualified medical professionals. The attorneys at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC work closely with medical experts to investigate what happened, whether the standard of care was met, and whether a preventable error contributed to the injury.
Treatment and long-term outlook
Because the brain is so sensitive to oxygen loss, these injuries must be diagnosed and treated quickly. Emergency care focuses on restoring oxygen and stabilizing the patient, and may involve mechanical ventilation to support breathing, fluids and medications to support blood pressure and heart rate, and medication to control seizures. In some cases, doctors may use therapeutic hypothermia, sometimes called brain cooling, to help limit further damage.
The long-term outlook varies widely and is closely tied to how long the brain was deprived of oxygen and how quickly treatment began. Some people recover with little lasting effect, while others face ongoing challenges that may require physical, occupational, and speech therapy along with long-term care. For families, these injuries can bring significant emotional and financial strain, and understanding the cause is an important first step.
Injury types: lack of oxygen brain injury
Recognizing the types of oxygen deprivation brain injuries.
Doctors generally recognize four categories of cerebral hypoxia, listed here in order of increasing severity. Understanding where an injury falls can help families make sense of a diagnosis and the road ahead.
Diffuse cerebral hypoxia
Focal cerebral ischemia
Oxygen loss confined to a specific area of the brain, usually when a blood vessel becomes blocked. Many strokes fall into this category.
Cerebral infarction
A more serious injury in which blood flow to one or more areas of the brain is blocked long enough to cause the death of brain tissue. Damage at this stage is typically permanent.
Global cerebral ischemia
The most severe category, in which blood flow to the brain stops completely, as can happen during cardiac arrest. It often results in serious, lasting brain damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about lack of oxygen brain injuries.
If your family is facing one of these injuries, you likely have questions. Here are answers to a few of the most common ones.
What is the difference between hypoxia and anoxia?
Cerebral hypoxia means the brain is receiving some oxygen but not enough to function normally. Cerebral anoxia means the brain is deprived of oxygen completely. Both are serious, and the difference often comes down to how much oxygen reached the brain and for how long.
Is a lack of oxygen brain injury always caused by medical malpractice?
No. Many oxygen deprivation injuries happen despite careful and appropriate medical care, and some result from accidents outside anyone’s control. An injury may involve negligence when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, such as by not monitoring a patient properly or by delaying necessary treatment. A thorough review of the records is the only way to know.
How is a lack of oxygen brain injury treated?
Treatment begins with restoring oxygen and stabilizing the patient, often through mechanical ventilation and medications that support the heart, blood pressure, and brain. Some patients benefit from therapeutic hypothermia, or brain cooling. Longer term, recovery may involve rehabilitation such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
How long does my family have to file a claim?
The time limit to file a medical malpractice claim, known as the statute of limitations, varies by state and by the specific circumstances of the case. Because these deadlines can pass sooner than families expect, it is wise to speak with an attorney as early as possible so your options are not lost to time.
