Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy(HIE) Attorney
When Your Baby is Injured, We’re Here to Help – 215-372-8889
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) — also known as birth asphyxia, neonatal encephalopathy, or perinatal asphyxia — occurs when insufficient oxygen and blood flow causes brain damage in an infant prior to or during birth. This can lead to moderate to severe cognitive defects, permanently affecting the child’s life. If your child has suffered from this, call The Villari Firm to speak with an HIE lawyer today.
When HIE occurs as a result of medical negligence, parents and other family members have the right to seek compensation for their child’s pain and suffering, as well as the economic and non-economic damages that accompany such injuries. At The Villari Firm, PLLC, our Philadelphia HIE lawyer can help you take legal action to hold the negligent doctors/nurses accountable and fight for the justice and recovery you and your child deserve.
If you would like to speak with an HIE lawyer today, please contact The Villari Firm, PLLC online or at 215-372-8889.
Signs & Symptoms of HIE
As any HIE birth injury lawyer can attest, any number of medical errors can lead to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, including, but not limited to, improper fetal monitoring, failure to respond to signs of fetal distress, and failure to order a timely/emergency cesarean section. While treatment for HIE is possible, action must be taken very quickly to stop the spread of damage.
Tragically, signs and symptoms of HIE are not always immediately apparent after a child is born. In fact, you may not realize your child has suffered brain damage until he or she exhibits developmental delays months or even years later. Sadly, by this time, treatment is no longer possible.
Some of the signs and symptoms of HIE include:
- Difficulties breathing
- Seizures
- Abnormal muscle tone (high or low)
- Feeding problems
- Seeming not alert/issues with consciousness
- Low Apgar scores
- Missing developmental markers
- Lack of reflexes
HIE Treatment: Recovery Is Possible with Quick Action
If a doctor suspects an infant may have suffered hypoxia, anoxia, or HIE in any form, he or she should immediately order tests and, if necessary, treatment. HIE can be effectively halted or minimized with a form of treatment known as therapeutic hypothermia, but it is absolutely crucial that the infant undergo this treatment as soon as possible.
Therapeutic hypothermia involves cooling the infant to stop the spread of cell damage, which can minimize the effects of moderate or severe HIE. The infant should also be carefully monitored for adequate oxygen intake, seizures, and hypo/hyperglycemia.
Call The Villari Law Firm for a FREE Consultation!
If you believe that a doctor failed to take necessary action to treat your child’s HIE, you may have grounds for a birth injury case. Our Philadelphia HIE lawyer at The Villari Firm, PLLC can help you pursue the just compensation you are owed. We have a proven track record of success, having secured over $125 million for our clients, and work with a team of medical experts and legal authorities in order to help our clients recover better, faster settlements and jury verdicts.
We understand what you are going through, and we are here to help. Call The Villari Firm, PLLC at 215-372-8889 for a free, confidential consultation.
