Newborn Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Treatment

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation. In babies, HIE is most often caused by a medical complication and/or medical malpractice where a baby does not get enough oxygen around the time of birth. Newborn HIE can lead to permanent brain damage and lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy (CP), intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities. However, there are certain types of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy treatment that can sometimes prevent severe, long-term conditions if they are given quickly after birth.

On this page, we will break down the different types of HIE treatment and therapies that can improve function and alleviate symptoms of HIE.

Was your baby diagnosed with HIE?

It can be overwhelming to learn that your child has been injured from HIE. Our team has helped countless HIE families like yours secure justice for their children. Speak with us to learn about your legal options.

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Immediate Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Treatment

Immediately after a hypoxic ischemic injury at birth, prompt and specialized medical interventions are essential to minimize brain damage and improve the baby’s outcomes. Physicians may use a range of treatments to stabilize the newborn.

Therapeutic Hypothermia (Cooling Therapy)

An HIE brain injury sets off a chain reaction: rippling outward from the initial injury site, brain cells become injured, die, and release certain substances that are toxic to other cells. The most effective treatment for HIE that slows down this injury process is therapeutic hypothermia, which is also known as brain and body cooling. Hypothermia treatment involves cooling the baby for three days and then slowly warming them back up. Cooling allows the baby’s brain to heal and minimizes the spread of damage.

Sometimes, a baby with HIE may not be eligible for therapeutic hypothermia. These circumstances include extreme prematurity or a birth weight of less than 3-4 pounds. If an infant is ineligible for cooling therapy, their core body temperature should be closely monitored to avoid hyperthermia. In newborns with HIE, hyperthermia has been associated with an increased risk of negative outcomes such as moderate-to-severe disability and even death.

Newborn Resuscitation

Most HIE babies need to be resuscitated after birth. Often, these babies develop respiratory problems, and may require help with breathing in order to prevent additional brain damage from oxygen deprivation. Others need more ongoing assistance, such as:

high-frequency ventilation
inhaled nitric oxide
extracorporeal life support (ECMO)

Sometimes, babies born without HIE – especially preterm babies – will need resuscitation at birth. If they are not treated in time, or they suffer from resuscitation errors, that can also lead to HIE.

Did your baby need cooling or resuscitation after birth?

They may have suffered from a preventable birth injury. If you suspect that your child’s HIE could have been prevented, give us a call.
Let us help you seek the justice and lifetime care that your child deserves.

Supportive Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Treatment

In addition to providing therapeutic hypothermia and resuscitation, medical professionals should very closely monitor babies with HIE for abnormalities in heart rate, breathing patterns, temperature, etc. They should also be on the lookout for frequently-associated conditions such as seizures, infections, and persistent pulmonary hypertension, among many other possible issues that need treatment.

Often, a newborn with HIE will require medical interventions to support their basic biological functions and prevent or manage dangerous complications. The following treatments are frequently indicated for infants with HIE.

Seizure Medications

Infant seizures can be difficult to recognize. Doctors must provide EEG monitoring for high-risk babies. Newborn seizures require prompt treatment because seizure activity can lead to additional brain damage, including an increased risk of epilepsy.

Phenobarbital is often used as the first line of treatment, although other drugs and interventions may be needed depending on individual circumstances. It is also very important to treat any underlying causes of seizures.

Management of fluids and electrolytes

Often, fluid restriction is recommended for infants with HIE until their renal function and urine output are evaluated, but this guideline is not based on evidence from randomized clinical trials. Therefore, decisions about fluid and electrolyte management should be individualized. It is very important to avoid hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), both of which can increase brain damage.

Long-Term Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Treatments

Most of the symptoms of HIE have no cure, but may be improved with high-quality treatments and therapies. If your child is permanently injured from HIE, they may need long-term care and specialized equipment and care. Visit our page on long-term outcomes and care to learn more about maximizing function and minimizing negative symptoms in children with HIE.

Affording HIE Treatment

HIE treatments and early intervention can provide a lot of hope and relief for parents who want to ensure their baby is stable and healthy. However, long-term care to meet your child’s special needs can be very costly depending on what treatments they need. In addition to their regular medical appointments, they may need surgical interventions, complementary therapies, assistive or adaptive technology, and other considerations to improve their symptoms and comfort. To understand your options for financial assistance, visit our resource page: Financial Information for Families of Children with Disabilities.

How Can a Lawyer Help?

When your child suffers from a traumatic injury like HIE, you’re focused on making sure they’re getting the care they need. It’s overwhelming, not what you expected for your child’s birth, and naturally, you must have questions – about your child’s condition, their future, and how to care for them as best as you can.

A lawyer may be the last person you consider contacting in this situation, but they can provide options if your child’s injury was preventable due to medical malpractice. At ABC Law Centers, we focus specifically on injuries like HIE, and our team can help.

When you contact our law firm for a free consultation, we will ask you questions about your child’s birth and listen as you share your thoughts and concerns. Our lawyers can review the details you provide and identify whether your child’s HIE is the result of medical malpractice. If that’s the case, you can be entitled to a financial recovery and your lawyer will fight on your child’s behalf to hold the responsible people accountable.

It can be intimidating to contact a lawyer, but if you choose a law firm like ABC Law Centers that specifically focuses on birth injury, you can be reassured knowing the professionals you’re working with are dedicated to helping parents in your situation.

Additionally, a successful lawsuit can provide you with the finances and resources to make sure your child has everything they need to thrive. Some examples include:

Access to quality medical treatments and procedures
Occupational, speech, and physical therapy to improve your child’s function
Complementary and alternative therapies to improve your child’s quality of life
Assistive and adaptive equipment for your child to move and eat more independently
Resources like a care manager, who can help you navigate your child’s complex care and advocate on their behalf

These are just a few examples of what our lawyers can do to help secure your child’s future. Our firm has worked with countless families in your situation, and we are grateful for the honor of providing them with the resources to help their children thrive for the rest of their lives. If you suspect your child’s HIE was preventable and have questions about how our firm can help you, contact us when you’re ready.

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Experimental Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Treatments

Sometimes, parents who contact us are curious about new and emerging studies on hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy treatments. Doctors and medical researchers are also continually investigating new HIE treatments to reduce the risk of severe disability in babies with HIE.

There are a variety of possible treatments for HIE that are still in the experimental phase. Some are undergoing clinical trials, while others are still being tested on animals.

It’s important to discuss any potential treatments with your child’s medical team. The following are just a few examples of promising treatments and not meant to be medical advice.

Erythropoietin

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone made by the kidneys. It helps the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to our tissues. EPO is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It may have benefits that protect our brain and can help reduce injury from cell damage and cell death caused by HIE.

Some clinical trials on babies with HIE have shown a reduced risk of death and improved neurological outcomes when given doses of EPO. It may also provide benefits for HIE babies when used in combination with cooling therapy, although further study is needed.

Phenobarbital

Phenobarbital is a type of medication that slows activity in the brain. It can help treat seizures and manage anxiety, among other uses. There is also some evidence that phenobarbital can help babies with severe HIE when given as a preventative measure.

In one trial, HIE babies who received phenobarbital had fewer seizures and didn’t need increased breathing support. However, a study on a similar medication (thiopental) for HIE showed an increased risk of hypotension (low blood pressure) in babies, and did not seem to improve seizure rates or neurological outcomes. Further research is needed on the safety and usefulness of these medications for treating HIE.

Stem cell transplantation

Stem cell treatments for HIE and related conditions (such as cerebral palsy) are currently under extensive study. Stem cells have the potential to promote cell regeneration, prevent inflammation, and decrease cell death associated with HIE.

Studies on animal models with HIE have shown that stem cells can travel to the injured area. However, the effectiveness of stem cell therapy depends on many factors, including timing and duration of the therapy, type of cells used, and the strength of the dose. Much more research is needed before this becomes an available treatment for babies with HIE.

Allopurinol

Allopurinol is an antioxidant that can stop free radicals from forming. Free radicals contribute to cell damage caused by HIE. Although research on rats with HIE has shown that allopurinol can decrease the severity of brain damage, human clinical trials have been less conclusive.

Additional research is needed, but early studies show that allopurinol may be most beneficial when given before birth when pregnancy complications deprive the baby of oxygen.

Magnesium sulfate

Magnesium sulfate is often given to pregnant women at risk of premature delivery. It has been shown to improve neurological outcomes and reduce rates of brain injuries such as cerebral palsy (CP). It has also been minimally studied as a treatment for babies with HIE, but so far results have been inconclusive with regard to safety and benefit.

Xenon

Xenon is a gas that may benefit babies with HIE when used in combination with therapeutic hypothermia. The first study on human newborns found a significant benefit, but a larger cohort study did not find significant results.

Further evidence is needed on the effectiveness of xenon, as well as the best timing, duration, and concentration.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition

NOS is an enzyme that increases after an oxygen-depriving injury like HIE. Unfortunately, this process can contribute to loss of nerve cells. Some researchers have suggested that stopping certain types of NOS could prevent further brain injury in babies with HIE; this has shown promise in animal models.

Looking for more information about new hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy treatments?

The Cochrane Review has published summaries of research on a variety of experimental and cutting-edge treatments for HIE.

ABC Law Centers established the Reiter HIE Fund to support the HIE research of Dr. John Barks, a professor and Director of the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at the University of Michigan. Dr. Barks’ research was an important factor in making cooling therapy a standard treatment for HIE. His current studies include different types of cooling therapy, HIE treatments, and how to manage complications from HIE, like seizures.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy and Medical Malpractice

HIE is often caused by medical negligence during or around the time of delivery. It’s also considered malpractice if a medical professional or hospital fails to provide appropriate treatment to a newborn with HIE (such as therapeutic hypothermia), missing a critical window of time to prevent additional brain damage.

As a parent, it can feel devastating to know that your child’s injury could have been prevented. It’s important to know that you have options. Holding the right parties accountable with a lawsuit can not only win justice on behalf of your child, but also secure the finances needed to make sure your child receives the care they need. Legal action can secure the resources needed for their future care, therapies, and support.

If medical mistakes or negligence played a role in the injury, a legal case may help relieve the financial burdens associated with lifelong care. You can have peace of mind, knowing you have done everything possible to provide for your child’s needs. While nothing can take away the pain of your child’s traumatic birth, a lawsuit may also help find closure in this difficult journey.

If you’re interested in learning more about whether you have a birth injury case, please reach out to our team at ABC Law Centers today for a free case review. In fact, you would pay nothing throughout the entire legal process unless we win or favorably settle your case.

Our firm focuses exclusively on HIE and other birth injuries, so we have the legal and medical knowledge needed to successfully advocate for your family. We also work with a wide network of leading medical, forensic, and life-care planning specialists. We leave no stone unturned, and will advocate relentlessly for your family.

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Dealing with a birth injury diagnosis can be difficult, but our attorneys can help. The ABC Law Centers: Birth Injury Lawyers team focuses exclusively on birth injury and are dedicated to earning justice for families like yours.

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