Minnesota Intracranial Hemorrhages Lawyer
The term ‘intracranial hemorrhage’ is a medical one that refers to bleeding in the brain. When a child is born with an intracranial hemorrhage, it could be a birth injury caused by medical negligence either before, during, or after childbirth. There are many different birth injuries a child can suffer during the birthing process, but an intracranial hemorrhage is one of the most serious. When a child suffers from bleeding in the brain, doctors must provide treatment right away to reduce the risk of further injury to the child. If your child was born with an intracranial hemorrhage, our Minnesota intracranial hemorrhages lawyer can inform you of your rights.
The Different Types of Intracranial Hemorrhage
The term ‘intracranial hemorrhage’ refers to bleeding in the brain, which is always serious. Still, there are different types of this injury. The most common of these are as follows:
- Intraventricular hemorrhage: The ventricular system of the brain is located in the middle of the brain. Its main function is to provide support to surrounding tissues. When an intracranial hemorrhage occurs in this area, the ventricular blood vessels break and leak blood into the area. Premature babies and infants with low birth weight are most at risk for this injury because their blood vessels are undeveloped.
- Subdural hemorrhage or hematoma: A subdural hematoma or hemorrhage occurs outside of the brain but still occurs within the skull. This type of birth injury is usually caused by traumatic injuries during the birthing process.
- Hemorrhagic stroke: A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when blood vessels in the brain rupture, depriving the brain of important nutrients and oxygen.
What Causes Intracranial Hemorrhages?
Anyone can suffer from a brain hemorrhage and they occur for many different reasons. When a newborn suffers from this type of injury, it is usually a case of medical malpractice. Intracranial hemorrhages that are considered birth injuries are usually caused by trauma to the head. For example, if a doctor used excessive force when delivering the child through the birth canal, it could result in an intracranial hemorrhage. Delivery assistive devices, such as vacuum extractors and forceps, can also cause bleeding in the brain.
Symptoms of Intracranial Hemorrhages
Intracranial hemorrhages are not always visible, particularly when they occur deep within the brain. As such, it is imperative that parents know the signs and symptoms to look for. The most common of these include:
- Seizures
- Weakness in the arm or leg
- Irritability
- Vomiting and nausea
- Difficulty feeding
- Difficulty swallowing or sucking
- Extreme lethargy
It is critical that doctors are able to identify when an intracranial hemorrhage has occurred, so infants can receive the appropriate treatment.
Our Birth Injury Lawyers in Minnesota Can Help if Your Child has Been Injured
If your child has been born with a brain bleed, our Minnesota birth injury lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, will advise you of your legal rights. Our skilled attorneys know how to prove medical malpractice so you can receive the full damages your family deserves. Call us today or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.