When patients collapse from cardiac arrest, the first thing paramedics do is begin CPR. The “P” stands for pulmonary. Unless the brain gets oxygen right away, usually within four minutes after the heart stops beating, it begins to die. An anoxic brain injury (ABI) is the real reason CPR is such a critical factor in survival after an accident or heart attack.
The causes of an anoxic brain injury and the related hypoxic brain injury are varied. Some of these injuries are outside medical control, such as when someone suffers a drug overdose. However, other such injuries are caused by accidents resulting from negligence. The experienced TBI attorneys at Friedman Schuman Layser can help if you or your loved one has suffered a brain injury due to another’s misconduct. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with a Fort Washington anoxic brain injury lawyer.
“Anoxia” means “without oxygen.” The brain needs more oxygen than any other organ in the body because once it is deprived of oxygen for any reason, brain cells begin to die. “Hypoxia,” a related condition meaning “low oxygen,” can happen at high altitudes or other low-oxygen environments.
An anoxic brain injury does not occur in any one location of the brain. Because the brain needs oxygen everywhere, any disruption in the oxygen supply can harm the brain everywhere. To learn more about the differences between a hypoxic and anoxic brain injury, contact our Fort Washington ABI lawyers today.
Some causes of ABIs are environmental, such as carbon monoxide in an enclosed space. Others are health-related, such as a stroke or heart attack. Some of the most frequent causes of anoxic brain injuries our Fort Washington attorneys see include:
Anything that causes an interruption of the blood flow to the brain can lead to an anoxic brain injury. If it occurs in a hospital setting, it could be grounds for a medical malpractice suit.
If the lack of oxygen is caught in time, the damage may be slight or unnoticeable. Individuals with mild anoxia may suffer headaches, temporary confusion, or minor memory loss. In some cases, people do not even know there was a problem.
Long-term oxygen deprivation can lead to symptoms similar to stroke, such as major memory loss, speech disorders, inability to concentrate, and loss of motor skills. In its most serious stages, individuals may suffer severe brain damage and even death.
Although minimal damage can be treated with rehabilitation, patients may be unable to recover from severe damage. This type of personal injury needs legal assistance from experienced ABI attorneys who can help victims and their families in Fort Washington get the compensation they need for long-term care and treatment.
At Friedman Schuman Layser, we have helped clients in Fort Washington and across Pennsylvania get the compensation they need after serious brain injuries. We have helped them recover damages after medical malpractice left them needing long-term in-home care and extensive therapy to recover their lives.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious anoxic brain injury and needs legal assistance, contact our Fort Washington anoxic brain injury lawyer. We are here to support you.
