Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: About, Treatments, & Causes

While every mother hopes for a smooth delivery, complications do sometimes arise. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, is a neonatal birth injury that occurs in two to nine out of every 1,000 live births. You can break the injury down into its three components: hypoxia is a term for a shortage of oxygen in the blood, ischemia refers to a shortage of blood flow to the brain, and encephalopathy describes the brain damage that results from hypoxia and ischemia. Thus, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is injury to the brain caused by a reduction in oxygen and blood flow. Lactic acid is released as cells begin to break down from the reduced circulation, which further disrupts normal cell function. The prognosis of infants with HIE will ultimately depend on the extent of the oxygen deprivation. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy can be caused by any event that compromises blood and oxygen supply to the fetus. Causes and risk factors may include placental abruption, nuchal cords and other cord complications, uter