Stages of HIE: Mild, Moderate, and Severe HIE

One of the most devastating things that can happen to expectant parents is for their baby to suffer an injury at birth. Some birth injuries are impossible to predict or avoid, but others occur due to medical negligence. 

If a newborn suffers oxygen deprivation during or near the time of their birth, they can develop hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This is a serious condition with the potential to cause lasting brain damage. Learn more about HIE and what your legal options may be. 

What Is HIE?

HIE, also known as birth asphyxia, is the result of a lack of oxygenated blood flowing to the brain. This causes brain cells to begin dying, leading them to start releasing chemicals that are toxic to other cells. These cells die, too. That chain reaction can occur over hours or days. 

Although not all cases of HIE are caused by medical negligence, many are. A medical professional who doesn’t monitor for fetal distress during labor, doesn’t check for placental or uterine issues, or delays birth could be responsible for this type of brain damage. 

The Stages of HIE

Doctors classify HIE in stages based on the severity of the condition. After performing evaluations, physicians will decide whether the baby has Stage 1, 2, or 3 HIE. 

Stage 1 is mild HIE, and it includes signs such as:

  • Floppy muscles
  • Hyperalertness 
  • Difficulty feeding
  • Frequent crying
  • Fussiness
  • Trouble sleeping

Typically, these symptoms start within 24 hours after birth. Stage 1 HIE often resolves itself. A baby who displays more serious signs can be diagnosed with Stage 2 HIE. 

They can show symptoms like:

  • Lethargy
  • Less reaction to reflex stimuli
  • Disinterest in sucking
  • Seizures
  • Breathing problems
  • Trouble grasping with their hands

Babies with this stage of HIE need to be carefully monitored because symptoms can worsen over just a few hours. A common treatment option to prevent more brain damage is cooling therapy, which lowers the baby’s body temperature and slows down the brain’s metabolism. It can prevent further cell death. 

The most severe form of HIE is Stage 3. A baby who suffers serious brain damage can display signs such as:

  • No response to physical stimulus
  • Poor blood pressure
  • Serious difficulty breathing
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • No neonatal reflexes
  • Unresponsive pupils
  • Seizures
  • Floppy muscles over the whole body
  • Coma-like stupor

Severe cases of HIE can be fatal, and it is up to medical professionals to carefully monitor for signs as they develop and respond appropriately to a worsening condition. Intervention within a few hours after birth can improve the baby’s chance of survival with Stage 3 HIE. 

Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim For HIE

If you suspect that medical malpractice led to your baby’s injuries, you may be able to file a claim to receive compensation. It’s vital to note that proving negligence in medical cases can be complex. You must show that another competent medical professional would not have made the same error that led your infant to develop HIE. 

To help your claim, you should hire an experienced attorney who has worked on these types of cases before. With their assistance, you can receive compensation to cover medical treatments for your child. If your child has severe HIE, compensation can also help cover nursing care and services that your child may need for the rest of their life. 

Because you depend on fair compensation, you shouldn’t go through this process alone. Instead, consider hiring trusted, experienced medical malpractice lawyers. 

Contact the Chicago Birth Injuries Law Firm of Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for Help Today

For more information, please contact the experienced Chicago birth injuries lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys today. We offer free consultations.

We proudly serve Cook County, Will County, Kendall County, and its surrounding areas:

Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Chicago Office
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