Hypoxic Brain Injury

Condition Overview

A hypoxic brain injury happens when the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen, leading to damage that can affect important functions like movement, speech and breathing. Recovery can be challenging, but with timely medical care and rehabilitation, many people can make meaningful improvements in their abilities and quality of life.

What Causes Hypoxic Brain Injury?

Several types of injuries and medical emergencies can cause a hypoxic brain injury.

Common causes include:

• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Cardiac arrest
• Near-drowning
• Severe anemia
• Smoke inhalation
• Strangulation
• Stroke
• Very low blood pressure

Hypoxic Brain Injury Symptoms

A lack of oxygen often causes a person to lose consciousness. As they regain consciousness and begin to recover, they may experience:

Physical impairments:

• Headache or vision changes
• Challenges coordinating and controlling movement (apraxia)
• Difficulty speaking and forming words (aphasia)
• Lack of bowel or bladder control

Cognitive and behavioral changes:

• Personality changes
• Depression
• Memory issues
• Mood swings
• Disorientation
• Inappropriate behavior

How Is Hypoxic Brain Injury Treated?

Treating a hypoxic brain injury starts with restoring the flow of oxygen to the brain as quickly as possible. Doctors focus on treating the cause of the injury and protecting the brain against further damage. In some cases, they may use a special cooling treatment, called targeted temperature management, to support recovery.

Recovery from Hypoxic Brain Injury

The outlook after a hypoxic brain injury can vary widely. Several factors can influence how much recovery is possible, including:

• How long the brain went without enough oxygen: Brain damage can occur within minutes. Longer periods without oxygen often lead to more serious injury.
• The cause of the injury: For example, brain injuries caused by events like cardiac arrest or near-drowning may lead to different recovery challenges.
• Whether the injury caused a coma and how long it lasted: People who wake up sooner — typically within a few weeks — often have a better chance of regaining more function.

Rehabilitation After Hypoxic Brain Injury

Brooks Rehabilitation is one of the few programs in the country offering a full range of services. Learn more about Comprehensive Brain Injury Rehabilitation.

Offerings include:

• Inpatient rehabilitation for hypoxic brain injury, 24/7 medical care, intensive therapy and daily support in a specialized hospital setting
• Skilled nursing care, if you are not able to return home after your inpatient stay, Brooks offers skilled nursing care focused on rehabilitation and daily support
• Outpatient therapy for hypoxic brain injury, ongoing therapy to improve strength, movement, speech and cognitive skills
• Home health services, therapists and nurses provide services in your home
• Brain injury day treatment program, provides full-day therapy after inpatient care with focused services to promote your independence and assist with returning to work or driving when appropriate

Why Choose Brooks Rehabilitation for Hypoxic Brain Injury

At Brooks, you’ll find expert care, advanced therapies and a team fully focused on helping your entire family move forward.

Highlights of our program include:

• Expertise: Your care team includes doctors who specialize in brain injury rehabilitation. Few programs in the country offer this level of expertise. Our therapists and neuropsychologists specialize in neurorehabilitation and have extensive experience working with people recovering from brain injuries, including hypoxic brain injury.
• Advanced neurorehabilitation technology: At our neuro recovery centers, you have access to innovative rehabilitation technologies, like the Cyberdyne HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) exoskeleton, which supports leg movement through neuro-controlled robotics. We are one of the only rehabilitation hospitals on the East Coast with this option.
• Specialized services: Brooks offers additional services that help optimize your independence and participation in daily activities. Offerings include driver rehabilitation, spasticity management and vocational rehabilitation through our Brain Injury Clubhouse.
• Family-centered approach: A hypoxic brain injury can affect your whole family. To make the recovery process a little easier, our team includes a brain injury educator. They help you understand what to expect and prepare your family to support you at home. Your loved ones learn important caregiving skills. These may include how to manage a tracheostomy (feeding tube) or help you transfer safely from your bed to a chair or the toilet.