Anoxic Brain Damage

About this topic

Your brain needs oxygen and nutrients to work well. When your brain does not get the right amount of oxygen for as little as 5 minutes, the brain cells start to die. When your brain does not work the right way, it causes problems with the rest of your body. This can change the normal actions of your body, your moods, and the way you act or behave. This condition is known as anoxic brain damage. It is also called hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or hypoxic-anoxic injury (HAI). It can cause long-lasting brain damage and coma. ‚
Anoxic brain injury or any problem that may stop the brain from getting enough oxygen needs emergency care and urgent treatment. This may help avoid more damage. The sooner the oxygen flows back to the brain, the sooner the damage to the brain cells stops and helps the chance of recovery. Treatment depends on the cause of the loss of oxygen to the brain and how serious the damage to the brain is. ‚

What are the causes?

Oxygen not reaching the brain due to: ‚

Accidents like:
- Drowning
- Choking
- Strangling
- Suffocation
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Smoke inhalation or breathing in smoke during a fire
- Poisoning
Injuries like:
- Electrical shock
- Head trauma or injury
- Pressure on the windpipe
Illnesses like:
- Heart problems like cardiac arrest, heart stopping, or abnormal heart rhythm
- Lung problems like diseases that affect normal breathing or breathing stopping
- Brain tumors
- Conditions that stop breathing muscles from working such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or a high spinal cord injury
- Very low blood pressure
Other issues like:
- Drug overdose
- Newborns not getting enough oxygen before, during, or right after birth
- Problems with general anesthesia
- Problems where blood does not have enough oxygen in it
- High altitudes

What are the main signs?

Problems may differ based on how bad the damage is. They may include: ‚

Changes in how you move:
- Less coordination and balance problems
- Weakness, stiffness, or numbness in the arms, legs, or body
- Trouble walking
- Trouble doing basic everyday activities
- Abnormal muscle movements or jerking or twitching
Changes in how you think:
- Not able to focus or memory loss
- Problems learning new things
- Bad judgment and improper behavior
- Problems making decisions
- Impulsive or fast behavior changes
Changes in your level of alertness and how you feel:
- Mood changes
- Coma
- Passing out or loss of consciousness
- Sleep problems or trouble staying awake
- Confusion
Other changes:
- Seizures
- Trouble talking or swallowing
- Hearing or eyesight problems
- Headache
- Not able to breathe without help
- Pupil size does not change with light changes
- Brain death

How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?

The doctor will do a full exam and learn about what has caused this problem. The doctor will shine a light into your eyes. This is to see if there are normal changes in your eyes with light. The doctor will also check reflexes in your body to look for signs of brain damage. The doctor may order: ‚

Lab tests
CT or MRI scan
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Echocardiogram
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Evoked potentials ¢ ˆ ’ To see if certain sensations like touch, seeing, or hearing reach the brain

How does the doctor treat this health problem?

Treatment can range from life support to almost no care needed at all, based on the amount of damage done to the brain. ‚

Life support, if needed
- A machine to help with breathing
- Fluids
- Blood products
- Drugs for blood pressure and heart rate
- Drugs to stop seizures
- Drugs to lower swelling in the brain
Lowering body temperature to slow the need for oxygen may help.
After the first care, the focus will change to rehab. This will help the patient get back any possible function. Rehab may include:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Recreational therapy
- Breathing therapy

Are there other health problems to treat?

Other problems are more likely to happen with very bad brain damage. These may also need treatment. These may include: ‚

Blood clots
Lung infection
Bed sores
Not able to take in good nutrition
Muscles shorten and do not let joints fully straighten

What drugs may be needed?

The doctor may order drugs to: ‚

Lower pressure inside the brain
Treat or avoid seizures
Help with pain and swelling

If you have a hard time remembering to take your drugs, have someone remind you, or write down a plan to follow. Certain tools like an alarm clock are also available to help you remember. ‚

Helpful tips

Think about joining a support group or program for people with brain damage. There are also groups for those caring for people with brain damage. This can help both you and your family learn ways to care for each other and deal with this problem better. ‚

Where can I learn more?

Family Caregiver Alliance ‚
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=575 ‚
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke ‚
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/anoxia/anoxia.htm ‚

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚

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