Birth Injuries

What is HIE Or Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy?

What is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy? To many parents, this word and condition is unfamiliar, until they are associated with a birth injury. Breaking down hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy into three parts is the easiest way to understand this term. The word hypoxic, or hypoxia is tied to a reduced level of oxygen. The word ischemic deals with blood flow. The final word encephalopathy means an injury to the brain. With each word combined, it means a reduced level of blood and oxygen leading to an injury to the brain. The definition of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is a brain injury that is caused by asphyxia (deprivation of oxygen).

According to some data, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy accounts for around 23% of neonatal deaths worldwide [1]. Due to the serious nature of this medical condition, several parents have serious concerns regarding the challenges their baby will face in the future. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy focuses on the lack of blood and oxygen in the tissue. When this happens, developmental delays and various other types of brain injuries can occur, like cerebral palsy.

[1] Medscape What is the global prevalence of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) https://www.medscape.com/answers/973501-106461/what-is-the-global-prevalence-of-hypoxic-ischemic-encephalopathy-hie

Quick Links

HIE

Cerebral Palsy

Meconium

FAQs

Resources

Glossary

Contact

Latest Articles

Baby Suffers HIE Injury But The Records Say Everything Was Fine

  One of the most painful moments for a family navigating a birth injury case is realizing that the medical records tell a different story than what they witnessed in that delivery room. It happens more than most people would expect. A baby can sustain a serious...

How Do I Find The Right Help After My Baby’s HIE Diagnosis?

  A parent recently left this question as a comment on one of my videos about HIE brain injuries at birth. It stopped me in my tracks, because it is exactly the kind of question that deserves a real, thoughtful answer. So many families are navigating this...

Why HIE Brain Injuries Can Sometimes Trigger Seizures In Newborns

    When a baby suffers a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy diagnosis, parents are often overwhelmed with medical information they never expected to face. One of the most frightening developments for families is when their newborn begins experiencing seizures....

Will There Be Enough Money To Care For A Baby With HIE

You found yourself holding your baby, watching therapists walk in and out, stacking up bills that never seem to stop. Somewhere between the appointments and the sleepless nights, a question crept in that you may have been afraid to ask out loud. The question of will...

Follow Us

Join Our Newsletter

ADVERTISEMENT. The information presented on this website should not be construed to be formal legal advice. The use of this website does not establish an attorney-client relationship; however, your responses here will be kept strictly confidential. Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee of future outcomes. Services not available in all states based on this communication. The attorneys of Boston Law Group, LLC have represented clients throughout the United States. They practice subject to court approval in states where they are not members of the bar. An attorney client relationship can only be created through a signed, executed engagement letter. Lawyers who will provide services advertised on this website and who are responsible for this website’s content are principally located at Boston Law Group, LLC, 9701 Apollo Drive, Suite 100, Largo, MD 20774.