Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
or Intrapartum Asphyxia

BRAIN INJURY – LACK OF OXYGEN TO THE BRAIN (ASPHYXIA)

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is the brain injury caused by asphyxia – also commonly known as oxygen deprivation. The newborn’s body can compensate for brief periods of depleted oxygen, but if the asphyxia lasts too long, brain tissue is destroyed. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy due to fetal or neonatal asphyxia is a leading cause of death or severe impairment among infants. Such impairment can include epilepsy, developmental delay, motor impairment, neurodevelopmental delay, and cognitive impairment. Usually, the severity of impairment cannot be determined until a child is three to four years old.

Asphyxia was long thought to be the cause of cerebral palsy, but two studies have shown that only 9% of cases are a direct result of asphyxia. In the remaining 91% of cases, factors such as premature birth, complications of birth or problems immediately following birth cause cerebral palsy. In some cases, cause cannot be definitively determined.

When Does Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Occur?

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is most common in full-term infants, although it does occur in premature infants, as well. The timing and severity of asphyxia can affect the area of the brain that sustains the injury. If injury occurs before week 35 in fetal development, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is likely to produce periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). At 40 weeks, the degree of hypoxia correlates to the area of the brain that is injured; mild hypoxia will affect the parasagittal white matter, while severe hypoxia affects the putamen, thalamus, and paracentral white matter. The area of the brain that is affected will have significant bearing on symptoms the child experiences.

What Are the Risk Factors of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy?

Asphyxia is the most significant risk factor for HIE. The severity and length of oxygen deprivation affects whether hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy occurs and how severe it is. Events that lead to asphyxia include, but are not limited to:

  • Acute maternal hypotension
  • Blood containing less oxygen due to poorly functioning lungs
  • Cardiac complications
  • Injury from cephalopelvic disproportion
  • Injury from umbilical cord complications
  • Impaired blood flow to the brain during birth
  • Interruption in breathing or poor oxygen supply
  • Intrapartum hemorrhage
  • Medical negligence
  • Prolapsed cord
  • Placental abruption
  • Pressure to the cranium that changes it shape, resulting in bleeding or decreased blood flow
  • Ruptured vasa previa
  • Stress of labor and delivery
  • Trauma
  • Uterine rupture

Fetal stroke also increases the likelihood of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy occurring. Factors that can lead to fetal stroke include:

  • Blood-clotting abnormalities
  • Blocked blood flow in the placenta
  • Malformed or weak blood vessels that may rupture
  • Maternal high, or low, blood pressure
  • Maternal infection, especially pelvic inflammatory disease

How is Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Diagnosed?

Once hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is suspected, neuroimaging techniques, especially MRIs, are performed to aid diagnosis. New techniques, including diffusion-weighted imaging and MR spectroscopy, are thought to be effective when used within appropriate time frames.

In order to perform these tests, doctors must first suspect hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. If birth was traumatic, or if a significant risk factor, such as fetal stroke, was known to occur during pregnancy, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy might be suspected at birth. Otherwise, parents, doctors, and caretakers take notice of visible signs – impaired motor function, delayed developmental milestones, and delayed growth, in particular –through clinical observation over time. A statement of severity level is provided when cognitive development can be accurately assessed.

Certain signs may appear shortly after birth. Organ dysfunction, especially of the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and blood, indicate possible HIE. Seizures in the first 24 hours of life can also indicate the possibility of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

There are three levels of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: mild, moderate, and severe.

Care must be taken to rule out several neurodegenerative and metabolic conditions that slowly progress and mimic cerebral palsy.

How is Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Treated?

Treatment for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy focuses on helping the child adapt to symptoms that result from the brain injury. Physical and occupational therapies are commonly utilized to treat cerebral palsy caused by hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Asphyxia typically causes permanent damage, which sometimes continues to progress even after the asphyxia has been relieved. To prevent further damage the child can be medically monitored to:

  • Maintain normal blood glucose
  • Maintain normal blood pressure
  • Prevent or control seizures
  • Prevent or minimize cerebral edema

How is Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Prevented?

The best way to prevent HIE is to eliminate asphyxia during pregnancy and delivery. Awareness of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy risk factors can help parents and medical personnel prevent and prepare for possible complications.

Prevention measures to be taken during pregnancy and at time of delivery include:

  • Learn about the importance of electronic fetal monitoring during delivery
  • Confirm medical practitioners chosen to participate in the delivery process are qualified to properly monitor pregnancy and birth
  • Provide specific medical advice and personal preferences to staff when arriving at the hospital, especially if the mother’s doctor is not available
  • Confirm that a qualified, certified, and properly trained obstetrician and anesthesiologist are available during delivery
  • Understand patient rights, especially the right to a second opinion, the right to not be rushed into a difficult decision when unnecessary and the right to request personal medical records

The 150-Year-Old Industry Debate
ASPHYXIA

Industry Debates

Debate exists over how many cases of cerebral palsy are caused by asphyxia (oxygen deprivation) occurring during delivery of the newborn. There is also disagreement over the number of cases of asphyxia that could have been prevented.

The debate is documented in the early days of cerebral palsy research, nearly 150 years ago, when Dr. William Little suggested the disorder was caused by complications during delivery. Later, Sigmund Freud hypothesized the difficult birth was actually a symptom of problems occurring during fetal development. It is now known that asphyxia is one of several possible causes of cerebral palsy.

Various studies place the frequency of asphyxia during delivery in a range from 8% to 23%, whereas the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) claim the rate is as low as 4%. Those who support the lower range of frequency typically cite American studies while supporters of the higher range typically cite surveys conducted outside the United States.

Some believe those in the medical field draw attention away from a preventable cause of cerebral palsy by understating the occurrence of asphyxia during labor and delivery, mainly to protect doctors from medical malpractice lawsuits. Others assume cerebral palsy is the result of events occurring prior to delivery, most of which are ruled unknown.

Many doctors – and many medical malpractice lawyers – believe asphyxia plays an important role in brain injuries that occur during labor and delivery. Asphyxia, under these circumstances can be prevented.

Why Understanding the Cause of Asphyxia is Important, and Highly Controversial

In some cases, asphyxia can be prevented. If a child has cerebral palsy due to asphyxia, it is highly advantageous to fully understand circumstances surrounding the cause of the child’s cerebral palsy, specifically how the lack of oxygen occurred.

Asphyxia can be caused by a number of scenarios. If asphyxia is related to neglect, medical malpractice, birth injury, or a mistake by clinicians, the law recognizes the undue burden placed upon the child and his or her family. The law provides families with the right to pursue Lifetime Benefits for the child through litigation. Lifetime Benefits secured by MyChild™ include monetary rewards for the life-long treatment and care the child will require. Although outdated by inflation, it was estimated from 2003 data that a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy in 2004 would incur nearly $1 million in related expenses over his or her lifetime. Not every child will qualify for Lifetime Benefits, but for those who do, Lifetime Benefits can be life-altering.

MyChild™ recommends a medical legal review of circumstances surrounding the cause of a child’s cerebral palsy for any parent who suspects asphyxia, seeks peace-of-mind, or would like to know if their child qualifies for Lifetime Benefits secured by MyChild™.

Please contact MyChild™ at 1-800-MyChild (1-800-692-4453) to obtain more information about Lifetime Benefits and the MyChild™ Medical Legal Review. Additional information is also available by clicking on one of the following website links:

Cause

For more information on cause of cerebral palsy:

Cause