Birth injuries are real fears of many soon-to-be parents. Sometimes, there’s nothing that can be done to prevent injuries or conditions a baby is born with. However, the negligence of a medical professional can cause a birth injury. While errors are not uncommon in the medical field, permanent disabilities and serious injuries caused by them is never okay. A subgaleal hemorrhage in newborns is a life threatening complication..
It can cause permanent brain damage, or even death. If you believe malpractice caused a subgaleal hemorrhage in your newborn, contact the Hampton & King team. Together, we may be able to get you the justice and compensation you rightly deserve.
What Is A Subgaleal Hemorrhage In Newborns?
A subgaleal hemorrhage is a rare and serious condition that affects newborns. It occurs when blood accumulates outside of a newborn’s brain. Blood can quickly leak into the subgaleal space. This is the area between a baby’s skull and scalp.
Because this space can fit quite a lot of blood, it is important for a doctor to quickly identify the bleeding and begin treatment. Otherwise, a subgaleal hemorrhage in newborns can cause brain damage. In more severe cases, it can lead to death.
Causes Of Subgaleal Hemorrhage In Newborns
Subgaleal hemorrhages are caused by trauma to the head during labor and delivery. There are veins located between the dural sinuses surrounding the skull and scalp. Trauma causes those veins to sever which leads to the hemorrhaging in the subgaleal space.
Approximately a whopping 90% of all subgaleal hemorrhage newborn cases are caused by the improper use of a vacuum extractor.
Here are some of the ways a physician can cause a subgaleal hemorrhage in newborns:
- Using a vacuum extractor for a prolonged time
- Improperly attaching the vacuum extractor’s suction cup on a baby’s head
- Excessive force during extraction
- Mistakes when attaching the vacuum extractor’s suction cup
- Making too many attempts at attaching the vacuum extractor suction cup
Think about it. A newborn is forcibly removed from the womb using forceful tools. The excessive pressure from these tools can cause damage to a baby’s skull.
Unfortunately, 17-25% of all newborns who suffer a subgaleal hemorrhage end up dying from the affliction. That’s why it is so important to monitor a woman throughout her pregnancy. And if necessary, it is important to deliver earlier and perhaps via c-section to avoid a hard, prolonged labor and the use of forceps/vacuum extractor.
After A Subgaleal Hemorrhage
While many cases of subgaleal hemorrhage in newborns have devastating results, early treatment can have more positive outcomes. Especially when compared to those babies who are left untreated for a prolonged period of time.
If a newborn with a subgaleal hemorrhage is left untreated for a long time, a range of other issues come up. The head might continue to swell as the blood leaks into the subgaleal space. The blood loss can cause low heart rate, breathing issues, feeding issues, lethargy, and seizures.
If a baby does receive treatment, it is possible they still suffer from certain conditions including:
- Developmental delays
- Extremely high bilirubin levels
- Cerebral palsy
- Permanent brain damage
- Hydrocephalus
- Decreased blood pressure
- Increased head circumference
- Diminished tone
Filing A Claim
It can be very difficult to know if medical malpractice was the reason for your newborn’s subgaleal hemorrhage. That’s where the expertise of malpractice lawyers comes in. They can help you identify if your newborn’s condition was caused by negligence.
A successful claim must show:
- Your medical provider failed to provide adequate care.
- The subgaleal hemorrhage in your newborn was only caused because of the medical provider’s negligence.
Damages you can claim
Ask any parent. No amount of money can make your child’s life-threatening injury okay. But the reality is, alongside the actual injury, there is a financial burden. Filing a medical malpractice claim can help you recover some of the monetary damages and make life just a tiny bit easier.
Here are some of the damages you can claim in your subgaleal hemorrhage newborn lawsuit:
- Past and future medical bills associated with the injury
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of income (perhaps you had to take time off of work to care for your newborn or quit altogether)
- Pain and suffering
A Subgaleal Hemorrhage Newborn Case Deserves Justice
Sometimes, life happens. Many health issues are out of control and we can seek the best possible outcomes through healthcare providers. However, some health issues are caused by healthcare providers. Far too many people are let down by the negligent care they receive. Consequently, they end up living with extreme health conditions.
If this sounds far too close to home, you may consider filing a claim. Get in touch with us to go over your options.
FAQ’s
A subgaleal hemorrhage is a very rare, very serious condition that affects newborns. There is an area between a baby’s skull and scalp known as the subgaleal space. Blood can leak into this space and quickly accumulate – causing a subgaleal hemorrhage.
Perhaps the most important aspect of subgaleal hemorrhage treatment is the timing. Immediate treatment usually yields the best outcome; this condition can quickly become very devastating.
Professionals must first find the source of internal bleeding and stop it immediately. When the bleeding stops, the swelling will consequently reduce. A subgaleal hemorrhage can resolve within 2-3 weeks.
Many subgaleal hemorrhage cases are misdiagnosed as cephalohematomas. But cephalohematomas occur when blood collects under a newborn’s scalp due to the rupturing of periosteum blood vessels. Perhaps the biggest difference between a subgaleal hemorrhage and a cephalohematoma is the severity. The latter usually resolves on its own over the course of several weeks. The former needs immediate treatment.
Yes, a subgaleal hemorrhage can cause death, especially if the subgaleal space is large. That means it can hold quite a bit of blood. In fact, newborns with a subgaleal hemorrhage can lose 20-40% of their blood volume. This leads to many severe consequences in a short amount of time. Because of how much blood can accumulate in the subgaleal space so quickly, many cases have devastating results.
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