Understanding the Problems Caused by Hypoxia

We all know that oxygen is essential to life, but many people are unaware of the ways in which a lack of oxygen can damage the human body and why this damage occurs. When tissues in the body are deprived of adequate oxygen, the condition is known as hypoxia

Hypoxia can be caused by illnesses such as asthma and pneumonia. But hypoxia may be most tragic when it occurs shortly before, during, or after the birth of an infant. Deprivation of oxygen in such a young and fragile life can lead to injuries that have a profound impact on the quality of life for the child as well as the child’s family.

As a team with decades of experience helping families recover resources after birth injuries caused by medical malpractice, we know the long-term effects of hypoxia are often unexpected and underestimated. Here, we provide a broad overview of the problems that can be caused by hypoxic birth injuries. If you contact us for a free personal consultation, we can help you understand the specific effects and needs related to your situation.

Hypoxia, Hypoxemia, Asphyxia: Understanding the Terms

Doctors and other medical professionals use many different terms when discussing injuries caused by oxygen deprivation. Understanding the differences between these terms can be helpful.

• Hypoxia refers to the deprivation of oxygen to bodily tissues. It could be caused by something that interferes with the delivery of oxygen or something that prevents the tissue from absorbing or using oxygen
• Hypoxemia refers to a reduction in the oxygen content of the blood. Hypoxemia can cause hypoxia.
• Asphyxia refers to hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) that occurs because of an obstruction or injury in the airway passages

One term that is frequently mentioned in conjunction with hypoxia is ischemia. This condition describes a critical, potentially dangerous reduction in blood flow that also reduces the delivery of oxygen to tissues.

Key Problems Caused by Hypoxia

Human cells cannot function properly without oxygen. While some tissues in the body can adapt to temporary reductions in oxygen levels, others can suffer serious damage very quickly. Even tissues that can handle temporary reductions in oxygen will be critically damaged if the deprivation is prolonged.

Damage to cells in the brain and heart is particularly problematic. When these cells are deprived of oxygen, severe damage can occur quickly and is often irreversible.

Some of the most critical problems caused by hypoxia include:

• Damage to organs that can lead to organ failure. This includes damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver, all of which are particularly sensitive to oxygen deprivation.
• Impairment of brain function. Just a few minutes of oxygen deprivation can cause brain cells to die. Minor effects include confusion and memory loss. More severe effects include permanent cognitive deficiencies or loss of consciousness.
• Cardiac arrest or other dysfunction of the heart
• Failure of the lungs to properly oxygenate the blood
• Excessive bleeding and intraventricular hemorrhage
• Necrotizing enterocolitis, which may cause a hole in the intestines

When a child’s brain or other organs are deprived of oxygen at a young age, while development is still occurring, the effects can be catastrophic. Oxygen deprivation is unfortunately common during the birth process. Medical professionals and hospitals are aware of this and know they should take special precautions and act with vigilance to prevent damage. Their actions may cause oxygen deprivation in a young child, or they may fail to act promptly to address a situation that is causing oxygen deprivation. Either scenario could be considered medical malpractice.

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

When blood is not delivering oxygen to a child’s brain, and the brain is damaged as a result, the condition is often referred to as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or HIE. The duration of oxygen deprivation generally determines how severe the long-term effects of HIE will be. Because the brain controls the entire body, the impact of HIE can impair functions throughout the body and cause deficits in thinking, reasoning, communication, and other brain functions.

HIE often causes cerebral palsy and related conditions. These disorders negatively impact a child’s muscle tone and coordination, making movements difficult to control. Children suffering from cerebral palsy due to HIE also often struggle with epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, and loss of hearing and vision functions.

When Hypoxia is the Result of Medical Malpractice

The birthing process–as a child transitions from functioning with the mother’s body to functioning as a separate entity in the outside world—is incredibly complex and stressful. Sometimes, conditions cause prolonged partial hypoxia or acute near-total asphyxia that cannot be prevented or addressed medically.

However, there are many occasions when appropriate monitoring and prompt intervention can improve oxygen delivery and prevent severe damage. Medical professionals who fail to monitor oxygen levels and blood flow during delivery, or who improperly delay action to relieve distress, can be held liable for malpractice. Health care providers and facilities can also be liable for improperly performing procedures that cause HIE injuries. For instance, a physician could be held liable for improperly administering labor-inducing drugs or anesthesia, or the misuse of forceps or other tools during delivery.

While recovering compensation through a medical malpractice claim cannot restore health, a claim for birth injuries can provide valuable resources to meet the needs of the child in the future. Children suffering from cerebral palsy and other effects caused by hypoxia often need extensive long-term medical care, adaptive home environments, intense therapy, and assistance in completing daily living activities. The financial stress on a family can be enormous. Recovering resources to meet these needs reduces some of the worry and can allow the family to focus on building the best life for the child.  

If You Suspect Your Child May Be Suffering from Birth Injuries, Talk to Martin & Jones

When a child suffers harm because medical professionals failed to provide reasonable care, it makes sense to do everything possible to obtain justice and recover resources to secure the child’s future. That’s why the team at Martin & Jones is so dedicated to success in birth injury cases. We know what’s at stake.

Birth injuries caused by hypoxia are not always easy to detect, and medical professionals may not readily admit they made a mistake. If your child is not meeting developmental milestones and you believe a birth injury could be the cause, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with our team to discuss the options in your case.