One of the most severe injuries a person can encounter is cerebral oxygen deprivation. If brain cells are cut off from oxygen, they may begin to die in as little as five minutes–and once they are gone, brain cells may not be regenerated.
In hypoxia cases, it is extremely important to act quickly to prevent long-term injury. Effective treatment may involve:
- Restoration. The first step is to restore the flow of oxygen to the brain. This may be done by simply removing the cause of hypoxia, but also by supplementing the victim with inhaled oxygen.
- Ventilation. If the victim has lost consciousness, he may be unable to control his breathing reflexes. If the state continues into a coma, the victim may require a ventilator or respirator.
- Resuscitation. Severe cerebral hypoxia causes an increased heart rate. If the heart becomes overwhelmed, it may stop pumping, requiring CPR, defibrillation, or adrenaline to restart it.
- Anti-convulsants. Cerebral hypoxia can cause seizures, requiring anti-convulsant drugs to protect the patient from harming himself or suffering further brain damage.
The length of time a victim suffers hypoxia is directly related to the extent of brain trauma. Unfortunately, brain damage may occur both during and after oxygen deprivation, and patients may not show symptoms of brain injury until weeks after the incident.
If someone was to blame for your loved one’s hypoxia injury, the Louisville KY cerebral hypoxia lawyers at Gray and White can help explain your legal options at no cost to you. Call us today at 800.634.8767 or fill out the contact form on the top of this page to set up your FREE, one-on-one consultation.