Cerebral Hypoxia, Pediatric
Cerebral hypoxia occurs when your child’s brain does not get enough oxygen. Cerebral hypoxia is a medical emergency and requires breathing assistance with oxygen to prevent permanent brain damage. Without enough oxygen, brain cells can start to die within five minutes.
The effects of cerebral hypoxia can range from mild to very severe and can be short- or long-term.
CAUSES
There are many possible causes of cerebral hypoxia. Some common causes include:
• Choking.
• Drowning.
• Strangulation.
• Suffocation.
• Breathing in smoke.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Head or neck trauma.
• Irregular heartbeats or cardiac arrest.
• Severe asthma attack.
• Complications from general anesthetic.
• Any …show more content…
TREATMENT
Emergency treatment of cerebral hypoxia starts with taking measures to restore oxygen to your child’s brain and to keep your child’s body functioning (life support). Your child may:
• Have a breathing tube put in to keep his or her airway open (intubation).
• Get oxygen.
• Have a machine to help your child breathe (mechanical ventilation).
• Get fluids or blood through an IV line.
• Get medicines to control blood pressure, heart rate, and seizures.
Your child's treatment may also include steps to prevent brain swelling (cerebral edema).
Long-term treatment of cerebral hypoxia depends on the amount of brain damage. Treatment may include:
• Physical therapy.
• Mental health therapy.
• Nutritional therapy.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
What you need to do at home will depend on the severity of your child’s cerebral hypoxia. Follow the instructions that your child’s health care provider gives to you. In general:
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important. This includes any rehabilitation that your child’s health care provider may suggest, such as:
○ Physical
Cerebral hypoxia occurs when your child’s brain does not get enough oxygen. Cerebral hypoxia is a medical emergency and requires breathing assistance with oxygen to prevent permanent brain damage. Without enough oxygen, brain cells can start to die within five minutes.
The effects of cerebral hypoxia can range from mild to very severe and can be short- or long-term.
CAUSES
There are many possible causes of cerebral hypoxia. Some common causes include:
• Choking.
• Drowning.
• Strangulation.
• Suffocation.
• Breathing in smoke.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Head or neck trauma.
• Irregular heartbeats or cardiac arrest.
• Severe asthma attack.
• Complications from general anesthetic.
• Any …show more content…
TREATMENT
Emergency treatment of cerebral hypoxia starts with taking measures to restore oxygen to your child’s brain and to keep your child’s body functioning (life support). Your child may:
• Have a breathing tube put in to keep his or her airway open (intubation).
• Get oxygen.
• Have a machine to help your child breathe (mechanical ventilation).
• Get fluids or blood through an IV line.
• Get medicines to control blood pressure, heart rate, and seizures.
Your child's treatment may also include steps to prevent brain swelling (cerebral edema).
Long-term treatment of cerebral hypoxia depends on the amount of brain damage. Treatment may include:
• Physical therapy.
• Mental health therapy.
• Nutritional therapy.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
What you need to do at home will depend on the severity of your child’s cerebral hypoxia. Follow the instructions that your child’s health care provider gives to you. In general:
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important. This includes any rehabilitation that your child’s health care provider may suggest, such as:
○ Physical