In the previous section, we talked about the Diagnosing Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy, or HIE. In this section, we will continue with covering prognosis and life expectancy for people who are affected by HIE and related conditions like Cerebral Palsy.
This information has been compiled from government sources, medical sources, and from consulting with experts on HIE.
Keep reading to learn more about prognosis and life expectancy for HIE.
What is the prognosis for HIE?
In some cases, the prognosis for HIE can start to take shape during the pregnancy itself. Doctors can pick up fetal distress signals and get an idea of the extent and cause of brain damage. However, some cases of HIE are not diagnosed until immediately after the child is born.
There are two main ways to decide the prognosis of a child with HIE after they have been born. These include Sarnat Staging and the APGAR Score.
Getting help for a child with HIE or Cerebral Palsy
can make a big difference
Because early intervention is often key to helping improve a child’s wellbeing, it’s important to act swiftly. At the Brown Trial Firm, our Houston birth injury attorneys can help you investigate your case, find answers to your questions, and determine whether you are entitled to compensation. We offer case reviews at no cost or obligation. Many birth injuries that cause cerebral palsy could have been prevented.
Sarnat Staging
As we covered in our section on Diagnosing HIE, Sarnat Staging is a method of classification used specifically to diagnose HIE. There are three levels to this staging process— Grade I Mild, Grade II Moderate, and Grade III Severe. The components assessed with this tool include alertness, condition of muscles, presence of seizures, vision response, breathing ability, and the overall duration of symptoms.
In terms of prognosis, some children that classify as Grade I Mild sometimes deal with very mild symptoms that do not affect their life. Children with Grade III Severe symptoms may have to deal with lifelong disabilities.
The APGAR Score
The APGAR Score is similar to Sarnat Scale with some key differences. The APGAR process is usually administered in normal and healthy births in addition to complicated births. This is done to evaluate the condition of the child and to assess any cause for treatment.
APGAR is an acronym that stands for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration. The skin condition of the child is assessed along with heart rate, reflexes, tone of the muscles, and respiratory ability. In general, a low score coupled with more than five minutes without symptom resolution can help lead to an HIE diagnosis. It is worth noting that an APGAR score on its own cannot properly determine HIE.
Prognosis Outcomes
The long term outcomes of children with HIE can vary. The possible outcomes depend on a handful of key factors, including:
- The extent of the birth injury
- How long the baby was deprived of oxygen
- The condition of the baby during pregnancy before HIE occurred
- How quickly care was administered
- When the HIE diagnosis was made
- What part of the brain was damaged
- How quickly therapeutic hypothermia was administered
- The extent of medical and therapeutic care the child receives post-diagnosis
In some cases, children with HIE can live long and enjoyable lives with mild to moderate physical or intellectual disabilities.
Some disorders and conditions that can stem later in life from HIE include:
- Cerebral Palsy (though it is worth noting that HIE is not the sole cause of CP)
- Seizures
- Developmental disabilities
- Learning disabilities
- Cognitive disabilities
- Physical disabilities
- Intellectual disabilities
- Feeding and nutritional problems
- Mental health illnesses
- Chronic pain
- Breathing problems
- Skin problems
The only way to be sure of what conditions your child may have as a result of HIE is to visit a medical professional for a full diagnosis.
What is the Life Expectancy for Someone with HIE?
The life expectancy of someone with HIE can be difficult to calculate. Symptoms and the severity of HIE varies quite a bit. In some cases, infants with moderate or mild HIE injuries can heal during the first few days after birth when carefully treated by medical professionals.
In some cases, however, severe HIE and undiagnosed HIE can become increasingly dangerous. This is because when brain cells are killed due to oxygen deprivation, those cells release toxic matter. That toxic matter can “infect” and damage other healthy cells in the brain. Unless a baby with a birth injury is quickly treated with therapeutic hypothermia, the damage from HIE could potentially be life-threatening.
Children with HIE who are diagnosed later in their first year of life can be treated to improve their quality of life. With all these factors put together, the life expectancy for someone with HIE can range drastically from a few hours to a full long typical life. However, most infants with mild to moderate HIE tend to survive and do not develop lifelong effects.
Sources:
Allen, K., & Brandon, D. (2011). Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: Pathophysiology and Experimental Treatments. Newborn And Infant Nursing Reviews, 11(3), 125-133. doi:10.1053/j.nainr.2011.07.004
UpToDate. (2019). Uptodate.com. Retrieved 18 November 2019, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-features-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-neonatal-encephalopathy
Help for Children with HIE – Brown Trial Firm. (2019). Brown Trial Firm. Retrieved 18 November 2019, from https://browntrialfirm.com/hypoxic-ischemic-encephalopathy-hie/
Long Term Prognostic of Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy With Hypothermia Treatment – Full Text View – ClinicalTrials.gov. (2019). Clinicaltrials.gov. Retrieved 18 November 2019, from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02676063
Heinz, U., & Rollnik, J. (2015). Outcome and prognosis of hypoxic brain damage patients undergoing neurological early rehabilitation. BMC Research Notes, 8(1). doi:10.1186/s13104-015-1175-z
What is the prognosis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)?. (2019). Medscape.com. Retrieved 18 November 2019, from https://www.medscape.com/answers/973501-106462/what-is-the-prognosis-of-hypoxic-ischemic-encephalopathy-hie