Cerebral hypoxia is a medical term used to describe a decrease in oxygen to the brain. The brain is very sensitive to decreased levels of oxygen and brain cells can begin to die after four minutes of being deprived of oxygen. The sooner the hypoxia is diagnosed and the underlying cause treated, the lower the risk of severe brain damage.
Cerebral hypoxia or a lack of oxygen to the brain can be caused by many things, including:
- Drowning
- Strangulation
- Choking
- Suffocation
- Cardiac arrest
- Respiratory arrest
- Congestive heart failure
- Electrocution
- Prolonged seizures
- Birth injury
- Sedative medications
- Head trauma
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Complications of general anesthesia
- Medical errors
If hypoxia is not diagnosed and treated right away it can lead to coma, seizures, significant brain damage and death. Oxygen needs to be immediately administered and the underlying cause treated appropriately.
If you believe a loved one developed cerebral hypoxia due to negligence, you may want to contact a medical malpractice law firm for additional information.
