What Is Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)?

You may have heard the term HIE, stands for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, and it’s a term that you may hear from a neonatal provider after a child has sustained a brain injury from lack of oxygen and blood flow. The term itself, can be broken up to mean hypoxic is lack of oxygen, ischemic is lack of blood flow, and encephalopathy means a brain disorder. And children who have had, lack of oxygen or blood flow during labor or delivery, may be diagnosed with this term during the immediate time after they’re born. If your child has received the diagnosis by their HIE or CP, it’s important that they’re seen by a physician who can coordinate their care including therapies. In addition, there’s different types of resources that are available to families who have children with HIE or cerebral palsy. These are support groups or advocacy groups. If you believe that your child has received a diagnosis of HIE or CP, you can also contact us today so that we can perform a thorough investigation to determine whether your child’s injuries were preventable.