Severe HIE: Diagnosis, Symptoms, and Treatment

Learning your child has severe HIE may take the wind out of your sails. But you’re not alone. There are professionals and support networks ready to help you set your course once again.  

The goal of this article isn’t to provide medical advice but to give you a basic understanding of what severe HIE is, what makes it different from other “levels” of HIE, and how some cases of HIE are preventable. If you need legal advice for a negligence-related case of HIE, we’re happy to assist you here. 

What is Severe HIE?

HIE stands for Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy. It’s a serious condition that occurs when there is a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain, typically during childbirth. This could happen because of a problem with the umbilical cord or the placenta, an infection, a uterus tear, or another emergency during birth.  

Severe HIE refers to a more advanced or critical stage of this condition. It means there’s a significant impact on the baby’s brain function and overall health. 

Why are some cases of HIE more severe than others? It depends on several factors, such as:

• The duration of oxygen deprivation
• The degree of oxygen deprivation 
• How quickly doctors recognized signs of distress and intervened
• How quickly doctors resuscitated the baby (if needed)
• The gestational age of the baby
• The general health and resilience of the baby

Typically, the longer the baby experiences reduced oxygen supply, the more severe the potential damage to the brain. Also, preterm infants are more vulnerable to the effects of HIE. A full-term baby with robust health is less likely to have severe HIE. 

How Do Doctors Assess Severe HIE?

Doctors diagnose the severity of HIE based on several clinical factors.

These may include:

• Apgar Score: An after-birth assessment that evaluates the baby’s heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflexes, and color. A low score can indicate potential HIE.
• Clinical Examination: Doctors examine the baby. They look for abnormal muscle tone, reflexes, and responsiveness.
• Blood gas analysis: Analyzing blood gases from the baby’s umbilical cord or blood can tell doctors if oxygen deprivation occurred.
• Imaging studies: MRI and CT scans help doctors identify injuries or abnormalities in the brain.
• Neurological Function Assessments: Doctors might observe the baby’s behavior and responses to stimuli. This helps them assess brain function. 

These assessments help doctors classify HIE into mild, moderate, or severe categories. Why is this classification important? It helps determine what the prognosis might be for a baby, and what treatment they need. 

Symptoms and Complications of Severe HIE

Right after birth, a severe HIE baby might have these signs and symptoms:

• Unresponsiveness
• Coma
• Poor or no reflexes
• Low muscle tone
• Abnormal eye movements
• Seizures
• Irregular heartbeat
• Hypertension
• Dilated or unresponsive pupils

According to the Florida Neonatal Neurologic Network, 75% or more of severe HIE babies have a severe handicap or die in the newborn stage. 

Some of the lifelong complications they may develop include:

• Cognitive impairments
• Developmental delays
• Cerebral palsy
• Visual or hearing impairments
• Learning disabilities
• Seizures
• Feeding difficulties

Treatment for Babies with Severe HIE

Immediate medical interventions and ongoing supportive care are crucial for every severe HIE baby. The outcomes for these children often depend on how quickly doctors respond.

The first “line of defense” for babies with moderate or severe HIE is therapeutic hypothermia. It’s also called “cooling therapy”. Shortly after birth, doctors put the baby on a special mattress that cools their body temperature. The goal is to lower it to about 33.5 degrees Celsius (92.3 degrees Fahrenheit) for 72 hours. 

Then, the medical team slowly warms the baby back up. During the entire process, they’ll monitor the baby closely. 

Cooling therapy doesn’t reverse damage to the brain. But it can help reduce inflammation and limit further brain damage. Research shows that cooling therapy can lower the risk of long-term disability.

Other treatment methods for severe HIE babies may include:

• Admission to the NICU for close monitoring and specialized care.
• Seizure control medications.
• Mechanical Ventilation if the baby has difficulty breathing.
• Neuroprotective medications like erythropoietin (EPO) and xenon gas 
• Ongoing rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy and occupational therapy. 

A Doctor’s Mistakes Can Cause HIE

Many cases of HIE can’t be prevented. But others can. Finding out your child has severe HIE is overwhelming enough. But finding out your doctor’s mistake caused your child’s condition? That adds a new level of shock and sadness. 

How could this happen? Here are some examples:

• Failing to monitor fetal distress
• Delaying a C-section when it’s necessary
• Mishandling complications such as nuchal cord (cord around the neck)
• Failing to recognize and treat maternal infections
• Improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction during delivery
• Incorrectly inducing or accelerating labor
• Making mistakes while administering anesthesia
• Mismanagement of a high-risk pregnancy
• Failing to resuscitate a severe HIE baby 

If you believe a doctor’s error caused your child’s HIE, contact our birth injury lawyers. We’ve recovered millions for families of children with severe HIE, and are prepared to do the same for yours. 

Severe HIE FAQ’s