If you were told doctors feared your baby had suffered a brain ischemia, a type of stroke, during pregnancy or during delivery, you may be wondering how a brain ischemia is treated. Doctors may use a series of medications, physical therapy, and surgery to avoid the possibility of further issues from brain ischemia.
The ultimate decision on treatment for brain ischemia will depend in part on the child’s age and the severity of the condition. A baby who has a mild form of brain ischemia could benefit from therapy and medication. An infant with a more serious form of brain ischemia could require surgery to repair the damage.
Babies can increase their risk of having a brain ischemia when there are complications during the birthing process. If the baby has a lack of oxygen during delivery, this could increase the risk of a brain ischemia, for example.
Brain Ischemia
Brain ischemia, also called cerebral ischemia, is a blockage in an artery that prevents oxygenated blood from reaching the brain. This lack of oxygen for an extended period of time leads to a brain ischemia and damage in the brain. Sometimes, this condition can lead to the death of brain tissue and cells.
An ischemic stroke occurs when a clot obstructs the flow of blood to the brain. This stroke differs from a hemorrhagic stroke, where an artery ruptures, preventing the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain.
Any person at any age could suffer a stroke. The American Stroke Association says stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans. Stroke is also a leading cause of disability, which, if a stroke occurs to an infant, he or she could be facing a lifetime of disability.
According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, pediatric stroke affects about 25 out of 100,000 newborns. It is the sixth leading cause of death in children.
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Options for Treating Brain Ischemia
Doctors may try a few different methods of treating brain ischemia in a newborn. The idea behind the treatment is to eliminate the original restriction in the artery and to prevent additional clots from forming that could cause more issues.
Medication
Doctors may turn to antiplatelet drugs to attempt to prevent clotting of the blood. These drugs can cause internal bleeding if used for too long or in doses that are too high, but they are prescribed in a variety of situations where stroke is a concern.
Another type of drug, called an anticoagulant, performs a similar function, preventing proteins in the blood from clotting as they normally do.
Sometimes, these medications will need to be continued for months or years.
Surgery
If the situation is deemed an emergency, a neurosurgeon may attempt to remove the clot through brain surgery. This surgery is a difficult procedure, as the arteries in the brain are extremely small with multiple twists and turns.
Therapy
Once doctors are able to reduce or eliminate the possibility of additional clots from forming, they may determine that therapy can help the infant counteract some of the symptoms of the brain damage.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy can be helpful in some cases.
Causes of Brain Ischemia
Sometimes, a stroke in an infant is not preventable. Other times, the doctor or other medical personnel treating the baby during the delivery may have made an error that led to the damage to the artery, resulting in the brain ischemia. Some of the causes include:
- Lack of oxygen during birth
- Damage to the brain from improper use of tools during delivery
- Dropping the baby after birth
- Placental abruption, interrupting oxygen to the baby
- Failure to diagnose an infection in the womb
- Heart defect in the baby that is present at birth
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Let Us Defend Your Right To Receive Compensation
After a difficult delivery, you may have been told that your baby suffered a brain ischemia. You may then be wondering how brain ischemia is treated.
Doctors need to watch for signs of brain ischemia immediately after the birth, especially if the birth was a difficult one. The baby will have a better chance of recovery if the condition is diagnosed early.
However, if medical personnel do not see the signs of the brain ischemia quickly enough, or if they caused the brain ischemia to occur through negligence during the delivery, you may be able to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit to recover damages.
Consider contacting the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529 for a free case review.
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