Intracranial Hemorrhages and Hematomas & Potential Lawsuits
Some infants suffer from intracranial hemorrhages before or during childbirth. These are very serious conditions that may cause permanent disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, if they are not promptly detected and addressed. This is because a hemorrhage may destroy areas of the brain that regulate movement and physical and mental development. Broadly, an intracranial hemorrhage involves severe bleeding in the brain or underneath the skull. An infant suffering from this condition may display signs and symptoms such as discolored skin, blood count changes, or abnormal eye movements. They may cry out in distress, or they may seem dazed and lethargic.
The two main types of intracranial hemorrhages are intraventricular and intracerebral hemorrhages. A related condition known as intracranial hematomas may affect infants as well.
Intraventricular Hemorrhages
The brain contains certain hollow areas known as ventricles. An intraventricular hemorrhage involves bleeding in or between the ventricles. This condition may not be serious if the blood does not reach the ventricles (a grade 1 hemorrhage) or does not dilate the ventricles (grade 2). However, a baby may suffer serious harm if the ventricles swell with blood (grade 3), or if the blood reaches the brain tissue (grade 4), which is known as a periventricular hemorrhage. A common risk factor for intraventricular hemorrhages is premature birth, since these babies have especially fragile blood vessels. A doctor may try to prevent a premature birth and give steroids to the mother that help the lungs of the fetus develop sooner.
While symptoms of intraventricular hemorrhages vary, many children exhibit some of the following indicators:
- Crying in a high pitch
- Low blood count
- Low heart rate
- Pale or bluish skin
- Seizures
- Apnea (temporary interruptions to breathing)
- Sucking problems
Tests to diagnose intraventricular hemorrhages include CT scans or cranial ultrasounds of the head, as well as lumbar punctures that allow a doctor to analyze spinal fluids. Treatment may involve surgery if the brain suffers from significant pressure. A doctor also may order a blood transfusion for a child struggling with low blood pressure or low blood count. Since complications may arise long after the initial hemorrhage, a doctor should monitor a child regularly as they develop.
Intracerebral Hemorrhages
A severe type of stroke in the brain of a fetus or infant is known as an intracerebral hemorrhage. Like intraventricular hemorrhages, this condition may result in permanent disabilities and problems with brain function if a doctor does not promptly diagnose and treat it. Risk factors for intracerebral hemorrhages include hematologic disorders, which may affect red or white blood cells, platelets, lymph nodes, bone marrow, or the spleen.
Causes of intracerebral hemorrhages include ruptured blood vessels in the brain, as well as obstructions to blood flow in the brain. When either of these situations occurs, blood may flood the spaces around brain cells. A child may suffer severe damage to their motor functions, or even paralysis, if an intracerebral hemorrhage affects areas that control these functions.
Intracranial Hematomas
Sometimes damaged blood cells released during an intracranial hemorrhage form a clot. This condition is known as an intracranial hematoma, which can cause permanent disabilities or even death if a doctor does not address it promptly. Hematomas typically result from hemorrhages that are limited to a certain area of the brain, where the blood presses against the tissue. Surgery to remove the clot can relieve this pressure, but sometimes the clot can be dissolved by using medication.
Compensation for Intracranial Hemorrhages and Hematomas
A child who sustains a hemorrhage or hematoma in or around the brain may develop conditions that permanently affect many aspects of their life. Some of these conditions occur when health care providers fail to diagnose and treat hemorrhages or hematomas in a timely manner. If this happens, a family may want to pursue a medical malpractice claim. This can allow them to recover compensation for the costs of treatment for their child. They also may be able to get compensation on behalf of their child for their pain and suffering.
Medical malpractice claims must be filed within a certain time period, known as the statute of limitations, or they probably will be dismissed. These cases may be subject to complex procedural rules as well. For example, a family may need to submit an affidavit of merit from a medical expert, verifying the substantive basis for the case. Parents thus should consider consulting an attorney who is experienced in this area. Birth injury attorneys usually do not charge fees for representing their clients unless they get compensation for them, after which the attorney fee will be calculated as a percentage of the settlement or verdict.
