Anoxic and Hypoxic Brain Injury

Among the different types of injuries that can occur, brain injury is amont the most serious. Brain injuries have the potential to alter someone’s life dramatically and indefinitely. While traumatic brain injuries are the most common, lack of oxygen can als cause significant damage to a person’s brain.

What Are Oxygen-Related Brain Injuries?

One of the most common types of brain injuries that occur includes those that are oxygen-related. These fall into the categories of hypoxic and anoxic brain injuries, which have distinct impacts on the brain and its function. Despite this, these types of brain injuries differ from traumatic brain injuries, commonly referred to as TBIs, as they are not directly linked to trauma, such as in the event of a forceful impact of the skull against another hard object.

Hypoxic Brain Injuries

Hypoxic brain injuries are those that are formed following a partial, but not entire, restriction of oxygen to the brain. In turn, a lack of oxygen sparks the gradual impairment, degradation, and eventual death of brain cells. This, of course, can directly impact motor function, memory, and other types of normal bodily functions.

Anoxia in the Brain

Anoxia differs from hypoxia in the sense that oxygen is completely shut off from the brain. As brain cells are not able to receive any oxygen at all, they die around four minutes after oxygen deprivation. The result of such an occurrence is similar to that of hypoxic brain injuries. However, many experience death just a short time after, thus initiating a potential wrongful death claim.

How Do Oxygen-Related Brain Injuries Occur?

The causes of anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries can fall into a number of different categories. Each carries with it its own set of medical and legal implications that are relevant to attorneys in filing a claim:

• Anoxic anoxia – Anoxic anoxia is suffocation as a result of a complete lack of oxygen in the air, therefore preventing the transport of oxygen to the brain.
• Anemic anoxia – If one’s blood is not able to properly carry enough oxygen to the brain or there is not enough blood to carry enough, it is defined as anemic anoxia.
• Hypoxic-ischemic anoxia or stagnant anoxia – can occur due to strokes and pulmonary conditions or when oxygen-carrying blood cannot reach the brain. 

• Toxic anoxia – Toxic anoxia is a condition in which poisons or chemicals hinder the ability of the brain to receive oxygen.

Finding Justice for Brain Injuries in Connecticut

Brain injuries, including those that are oxygen-related, such as hypoxia and anoxia, can happen through negligence and malintent. Whether it be through a gas leak in your apartment building or medical malpractice at the hospital, you have a right to the losses you have incurred as a result of the injury. Reach out to our Connecticut brain injury attorneys today at (203) 493-0093 to learn more about how we can help you seek damages for anoxia and hypoxia.