Our brain is the center of our identity and ability to function. Any injury to the brain is an emergency. One of the most serious types of brain injury occurs when the brain is partially or fully starved of oxygen for any period of time. The resulting injury can be devastating and deadly.
Our legal team works with individuals and families who suffer brain injury as a result of medical malpractice or negligence. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when the brain is subjected to trauma by force or penetration, such as in an automobile accident. Concussion is the most common form of this type of injury.
During a trauma injury, brain tissue can twist, stretch, bruise, or tear, causing focused or diffuse injury. Bleeding on or in the brain due to a hit to the head can quickly lead to irreparable damage or death.
While many people understand that a hit to the head is a serious event, fewer consider the types of brain injury that occurs from within the brain itself, when the brain is damaged by lack of oxygen. How does this happen?
What do we Mean by Hypoxic and Anoxic Brain Injury?
Hypoxia is a term used to describe a condition where not enough oxygen reaches the brain. Anoxic brain injury occurs when oxygen to the brain is completely cut off.
These types of injuries result from causes that include:
- Events that occur during surgery, including anesthesia accidents or birth trauma that can leave a child with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or cerebral palsy
- Strangulation, choking, or any kind of physical interruption of the transfer of oxygen to the brain
- Inhalation of poisonous fumes, like smoke, carbon monoxide, or other substances that impair the ability of the brain to take up oxygen
- Heart attack or stroke that interrupts the supply of oxygen to the brain
Infants born prematurely may suffer from low oxygen levels which can cause hypoxia. In a recent study from Stanford University, Dr. Anca Pasca notes, “In the past 20 years, we’ve made a lot of progress in keeping extremely premature babies alive, but 70% to 80% of them have poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Hypoxic brain injuries are thought to lead to neurological and psychiatric disease in some preemies.”
Brain injury that occurs in a surgery setting is quiet. It may occur due to excessive bleeding, an anesthesia error, or other inadvertent error that reduces or cuts off oxygen to the brain. The result may be death or lifetime cognitive, emotional, and physical impairment.
While there are supportive therapies to assist those that suffer any kind of brain injury, there is currently no way to repair damaged neurological tissue. If you or a family member suffer a brain injury as the result of the negligence of another, speak with us about your options.
Experienced injury attorneys help you if you suffer medical malpractice
Recognized for excellent service to their clients, the law firm of Schochor, Staton, Goldberg, and Cardea, P.A. delivers aggressive legal representation if a loved one is injured due to medical negligence. Serving clients nationwide from offices in Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, DC, we offer a free consultation. Contact us online or call 410-234-1000 today.