What is cerebral hypoxia. Oxygen starvation of the brain

Shoshina Vera Nikolaevna

Therapist, education: Northern medical University. Work experience 10 years.

Articles written

Without oxygen, human life is at risk, even if it was not there for several minutes. Hypoxia of the brain indicates an insufficient intake of this beneficial substance into the body or that the order of removing carbon dioxide from the blood is disturbed.

The lack of oxygen in the brain is dangerous because of the irreversible processes that occur. With the continuity of the process of providing the body with oxygen, nothing threatens a person, but a failure in the respiratory system or transport elements of the blood flow - and the brain is the first to be affected.

Hypoxia of the brain is a state of the body that can already lead to other pathologies. A few seconds is enough for all internal organs and systems to stop functioning. That is why brain hypoxia is called critical for any living being.

Already at the 15th second, brain activity stops, leading to a coma. And every subsequent second provokes irreversible processes.

That is why, if acute hypoxia happened far from medical institution where there are doctors and the necessary equipment for resuscitation, a person's chances of survival are extremely low. The survival rate in such cases does not exceed 4-5%.

Important! 3-4 minutes of oxygen starvation of the brain is enough for a person to die. In infants and young children, this period is even shorter.

Hypoxia during pregnancy and childbirth is dangerous, because the life of the child and / or the fetus is at risk: he may die or get complications leading to disability. Doctors identify the following reasons that provoke this condition in newborns:

A woman in labor was diagnosed with serious health problems in a severe form, such as intoxication, leukemia, heart disease, etc.
There is a problem with the umbilical cord, which occurs due to its defects, improper presentation of the fetus, post-term pregnancy, prolonged or rapid delivery.
Fetal defect, heart disease, complications infectious disease, intracranial injury and the conflict of the Rh factor of mother and child.
Asphyxia due to overlap respiratory tract.

Important! A prolonged lack of oxygen in the fetus leads to irritation of the respiratory centers, because of this, the child begins to breathe in mucus, blood, and amniotic fluid. At the first breath, pneumothorax will occur, leading to the death of the child.

Kinds

Cerebral hypoxia is divided into types according to etiology, time of development and localization.

By etiology

If we take into account external factors, then cerebral hypoxia can be divided into the following types:

Hypoxic is when there is a lack of oxygen directly in the air. Most often this occurs due to poor ventilation of the premises, lack of ventilation in completely enclosed rooms. Climbers experience symptoms of brain hypoxia, because the higher, the less oxygen in the air.
Respiratory, when there is a malfunction in the respiratory system due to diseases or dysfunctions of the respiratory center.
Cardiovascular, caused by changes in the composition of the blood, which interferes with its normal flow: heart failure, narrowed working channels along,. Such hypoxia can lead to ischemic stroke of the brain.
Hemic, associated with changes in the composition of the blood. Oxygen is transported throughout the body by hemoglobin molecules. And if there is a deficiency in it, then oxygen will remain unbound and will not be able to enter the cells.
Tissue, when the body cannot utilize carbon dioxide from cells. Most often occurs due to blockage of a fragment of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, provoked by a poison or nearby. medicines.
Overload, which is a temporary phenomenon with an excessive load on the muscle, nerve tissue or the organ itself.
Technogenic, provoked by harmful substances in production, and the like.
Mixed, any hypoxia that led to a tissue type of pathology.

By exposure time

Due to the fact that hypoxia is not a disease, but a condition, the speed of its development is extremely important. It is divided into 3 types:

Lightning, developing rapidly, for example, in case of injury or hemorrhage in the center of respiration. It doesn't matter if it happened to an adult or a child, without urgent medical attention, the patient will die.
Acute, when it takes a couple of hours to develop, which is often the case with cyanide poisoning, which blocks the enzymes of the respiratory chain. The time to provide emergency care goes for minutes, because the faster this happens, the higher the chance to save the health and life of the patient.
Chronic, not threatening the life of the patient, but significantly worsening its quality. The body uses all the mechanisms to saturate the brain with oxygen on its own, only to maintain its vital activity, but there will be no full restoration of functions.

By localization

Doctors divide the localization of brain hypoxia into 4 main types:

Scattered when there is general disadvantage oxygen in the blood, which leads to violations of low and moderate severity. At the same time, it has the most favorable prognosis for the patient.
Central, cerebral, ischemic attack, when the blood supply to a separate part of the brain is disturbed due to thrombosis due to a more extensive pathology.
A global, cerebral, ischemic attack, in which blood does not completely enter the brain.
Ischemic type stroke, the cause of which is a rapid narrowing and / or obstruction of the blood flow. With it, several areas will be affected at once.

Symptoms of oxygen starvation of the brain

The clinical picture with a lack of oxygen in the brain is special, and its influence is hard not to notice:

increased excitability, when it is difficult to control facial expressions, actions, behavior;
the head and the whole body are covered with cold sweat, so the body copes with hypoxia on its own;
the skin becomes an unnatural color, which immediately attracts the attention of strangers, most often the face becomes red or pale with cyanosis;
the central nervous system will be inhibited and brain structures damaged, leading to slurred speech, hearing loss, blurred vision, fainting, etc.
signs of loss of both unconditioned and conditioned reflexes due to swelling of the brain, which led to such a condition.

The higher a person's sensitivity to hypoxic injury, the greater the chance that he will fall into a coma. When it turns off main center control of the body, the heart, blood flow, and the entire vital activity of the body can stop. That is why even a short attack is so dangerous.

Human defense mechanisms during hypoxia

Even premature baby at the level of unconditioned reflexes will fight for his life. During hypoxia, a number of protective mechanisms are triggered in humans:

an increase in the frequency of breathing, it becomes deep, and subsequently intermittent, rare, superficial;
increase in heart rate and contractility, increase blood pressure so that more oxygen enters the tissues of the body;
hunger leads to the extraction of blood supplies from the liver and spleen, so that transportation is faster;
all functional organs slow down their work to optimize the process;
alternative energy production due to the breakdown of carbohydrates according to the principle of anaerobic glycolysis, which provokes acidosis.

Despite the abundance of mechanisms, in the end they will lead to the death of the organism, since the failures that occurred when they were turned on are incompatible with life. After the blood supply is taken from the organs, they will gradually fade away and it is not always possible to restore their functionality even with the help of doctors.

Therefore, it is important not to let the body reach this stage, which is possible only if resuscitation measures are started on time.

Diagnostics

Even at home, it is possible to diagnose an attack of acute hypoxia due to the characteristic clinical picture. But the chronic form of hypoxia is similar to a malfunction in the functioning of the central nervous system and often occurs due to it. Therefore, the doctor will prescribe measures that establish the root cause of the condition, whether cervical osteochondrosis or a tumor. Alcoholism also leads to chronic hypoxia.

The doctor will prescribe:

blood for general and gas analysis;
rheovasography;
angiography;
capnography;
CO-metry.

In severe cases, all of these checks can be carried out, but most often it is a complex of 3-4 measures, which is enough to make a diagnosis.

Emergency care and treatment

All measures should be aimed at restoring breathing, gas exchange and stabilizing the patient, and only then at rehabilitation. And folk ways don't fit here. At the same time, it is necessary to determine the cause of the condition and eliminate it so that the vital functions of the body are not endangered.

For example, if a teenager becomes ill in a stuffy bus, then he needs to be taken out to fresh air or an oxygen bag should be put on him. To speed up the process, you will need an injection of a bronchodilator drug. If the reason is hypertensive crisis, Riboxin can be applied. But each case is individual.

Important! Urgent care- calling an ambulance and providing resuscitation measures required in such a situation.

General drug therapy build on drugs:

normalizing the work of the vascular system;
to improve blood supply;
thinning blood;
eliminating atherosclerotic vascular lesions;
to relieve pain, nausea;
strengthening the body.

In newborns

The birth of a child is already a difficult process, but if the baby has difficulty breathing, the doctor will clear the paths of mucus, amniotic fluid residues and introduce surfactants to eliminate their swelling. Most often, artificial respiration is indispensable. The newborn is placed in a special chamber with a high oxygen content and pressure in order to quickly make up for the resulting deficiency.

In adults

After emergency measures and stabilization of the patient, he needs to take all measures to change his lifestyle if they caused hypoxia. So, smokers, if they cannot completely give up a bad habit, should be less indoors, and more in the fresh air and perform special breathing exercises.

If the cause is poison, then doctors will administer antidotes in order to neutralize them in a timely manner and bring the person back to normal. Each specific case is treated differently. And prevention is the same for all cases - healthy lifestyle life and health care.

Effects

With hypoxia, not only the cerebral cortex suffers, but all its structures. And the consequences will depend on how quickly the attack occurred. Unfortunately, instantaneous, subacute and sharp look hypoxia ends in death, except in cases where resuscitation was provided immediately after the onset of the attack. Chronic oxygen deficiency gradually affects the brain tissue, which leads to:

vomiting and nausea;
vertigo;
confusion and loss of consciousness;
problems with speech, hearing and vision;
systematic pain in the head.

Provided that in case of a hypoxic attack, a team of highly qualified doctors will provide timely assistance, conduct appropriate treatment and preventive actions, there is a good chance for a complete restoration of brain functions.

But if we are talking about chronic hypoxia, which has not been treated for a long time, then serious consequences cannot be avoided.

Even if therapy is started, it is impossible to restore the brain to its previous state, and the person will suffer from the consequences of oxygen starvation.

Hypoxia of the brain is oxygen starvation of its tissues. A variety of factors, both external and internal, can provoke cerebral hypoxia in an adult. Oxygen starvation can be the result of insufficient oxygen in the air, or the result of a violation in the system of its delivery to the brain.

Without oxygen, the human body cannot exist. Its deficiency affects all organs without exception. The most sensitive to lack of oxygen is the brain. Even a few seconds of severe hypoxia is enough for brain cells to begin to die, and after half a minute a person will simply fall into a coma. After another 4 minutes, brain death will occur. Therefore, the danger of this pathological condition should not be underestimated.

Depending on the rate of occurrence and duration of the hypoxic state, there are three forms of oxygen starvation of the brain:

Lightning hypoxia, which increases in just a few seconds, but no more than one minute. At the same time, the condition of a person is rapidly deteriorating, often this ends in death. Lightning hypoxia can occur when an aircraft flying at an altitude of 11,000 m is depressurized, or when large arteries in the human body rupture.

Acute hypoxia develops over several minutes, but not more than an hour. The reason for such oxygen starvation of the brain may be hidden in acute respiratory failure or as a result of significant blood loss.

Subacute hypoxia increases over several hours, but not more than a day. In this case, chronic heart or lung failure, venous bleeding, etc., can lead to hypoxia.

Chronic hypoxia of the brain develops over several days or even months. It is a consequence of various diseases, for example,.

In any case, cerebral hypoxia is a condition that requires emergency medical care to the patient, as sooner or later it will lead to his death.

Approximately 20% of the total volume of blood circulating in the body enters the brain. Together with blood cells, oxygen and other nutrients are delivered to the body. useful material needed to keep it working.

There are endogenous and exogenous types of hypoxia. The reason for the development of exogenous oxygen starvation of the brain is a decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the environment, namely, in the inhaled air. Often a similar situation is observed when climbing mountains, so this condition of the body is called Altitude or Mountain sickness. A sharp drop in barometric pressure can also lead to exogenous oxygen starvation. At the same time, they talk about the development of decompression sickness in a person.

Endogenous oxygen starvation is indicated when the level of oxygen in the air is lowered, and the barometric pressure remains normal. Such a situation can happen when a person is in mines, and wells, in a submarine, or during an operation with errors in the operation of the apparatus responsible for supplying oxygen to a patient under anesthesia.

Also, brain hypoxia can develop in pathological conditions of the body. In this regard, there are:

Hypoxia of the brain, which develops against the background of disorders in the organs of the respiratory system.

The following reasons can lead to respiratory hypoxia of the brain:

Alveolar hypoventilation. This can be observed in violation of the airway, for example, against the background inflammatory process in the lungs, when a foreign body enters the respiratory tract, due to spasm of the respiratory tract. Also, hypoxia of the brain can lead to:, pulmonary edema, accumulation of exudate in the pleural cavity. The cause of moderate hypoxia of the brain is often impaired mobility. chest, paralysis of the respiratory muscles, as well as its spasm on the background of tetanus or myasthenia gravis. Alveolar hypoventilation can lead to oxygen starvation of the brain in violation of the processes of regulation of respiration, when the respiratory center is affected by pathogenic factors. Other reasons include: hemorrhages in the respiratory organs, the presence of a tumor in them, trauma medulla oblongata, drug overdose or sleeping pills, severe pain that occur in a person during the performance of respiratory movements.

Failure of ventilation-perfusion connections develops due to impaired airway patency against the background of bronchospasm, pneumosclerosis.

Excessive shunting of venous blood, which is observed with congenital anomalies in the development of the heart.

Difficulty in diffusion of oxygen. The cause is emphysema, asbestosis, lung sarcoidosis, interstitial.

Hypoxia, which develops against the background of certain circulatory disorders, leading to insufficient blood supply to the brain tissues. The reasons are: massive blood loss, dehydration of the body during burns or cholera, etc. This also includes disorders in the work of the heart muscle, for example, or cardiosclerosis, cardiac tamponade, heart overload. Often factors can occur in various combinations. Circulatory hypoxia of the brain develops against the background of severe infectious diseases, severe allergic reactions, electrolyte imbalance, when taking glucocorticoids, with an increase in blood viscosity, with acute and chronic heart failure, with collapse, etc.

Reduced oxygen capacity of the blood, leading to the development of cerebral hypoxia, may be the result of such factors as: severe anemia with a sharp drop in hemoglobin levels in red blood cells. This is often observed in diseases such as tuberculosis and intestines, poisoning with hemolytic poisons, massive burns, malaria, exposure to ionizing radiation, against the background of a lack of vitamins and iron from food.

Tissue hypoxia of the brain develops when the tissues of the body lose the ability to absorb oxygen from the blood. A similar situation develops against the background of cyanide poisoning, with an overdose of barbiturates, antibiotics, and when the body is exposed to toxic substances of various origins. Also, a deficiency of thiamine, riboflavin and other vitamins can provoke tissue hypoxia of the brain.

Hypoxia of the brain mixed type develops when several factors lead to it simultaneously. It should be noted that any severe hypoxia proceeds according to a mixed type, for example, with various types traumatic shock or during a coma.

Features of the course of cerebral hypoxia and adaptive reactions of the body

The severity of hypoxia in various organs and tissues may vary. So, in the event of a threatening situation, the body will independently redistribute blood in such a way that the brain is supplied with it better than other organs and tissues. This process is called centralization of blood circulation. It can be activated, for example, in case of acute blood loss.

The result of this mechanism is that the brain suffers from hypoxia less than peripheral organs, such as the liver or kidneys, where irreversible changes do not develop at such a high rate.

How is hypoxia of the brain manifested?

Depending on the severity of brain disorders during hypoxia, there are:

Easy degree. This is manifested by such symptoms as: lethargy, stupor, or, on the contrary, a person becomes hyperexcited, he has euphoria, and his heart rate increases. The palpebral fissures become uneven in size as a result of paresis of the facial nerve. If the pathogenic factor that affects the oxygen starvation of the brain is not eliminated, then after a few hours or days, it will move to the next stage.

Average degree. The patient retains paresis of the facial nerve, reflexes of the mucous membranes and tendon reflexes are most often reduced. From time to time, seizures may occur, which begin with the front part, and then spread to the trunk and limbs. Anxiety and psychomotor agitation increased. The victim has difficulty orienting in space, his memory and other cognitive abilities are deteriorating.

Severe degree. The patient has a deep depression of consciousness with the loss of voluntary activity, but the reflexes are preserved. This condition is called constipation. Sometimes already at this stage a person falls into a severe coma. He develops upper and lower extremities, grasping and sucking reflexes appear, muscle tone drops. Perhaps persistent fever, increased sweating and lacrimation.

A critical degree that poses a threat to life. This condition is characterized by a deep coma, all brain structures are affected. The patient's skin is cold, facial expressions are absent, eyeballs are motionless, pupils are dilated, do not react to light. The mouth remains half open, the eyelids are closed, the skin is cyanotic. The heart works weakly, vascular tone is reduced. As hypoxia progresses, the functions of the cerebral cortex fade away. A person dies if his life is not supported with the help of an artificial respiration apparatus and means for toning up the cardiovascular activity.

Separately, the symptoms of chronic cerebral hypoxia should be described, which include:

Increased fatigue.

Excessive irritability.

Emotional incontinence.

Decreased intelligence.

Violations of the emotional-volitional sphere.

Deterioration of memory and attention.

Bad mood.

Increased tearfulness.

Most often, people become indifferent to everything that happens, less often they are complacent and are in euphoria.

Periodic bouts of nausea are possible.

Night rest is disturbed, and during the day a person experiences bouts of drowsiness. He falls asleep with difficulty, sleep is superficial, intermittent. The patient often has nightmares. After a night, a person feels tired and not rested.

Chronic hypoxia is characterized by vegetative disorders, including: increased pulsation in the head, the appearance of tinnitus, frequent episodes of darkening in the eyes, a feeling of a rush of heat to the head. The heartbeat becomes more frequent, pain in the heart and shortness of breath may appear. Even episodes of loss of consciousness are not excluded.

Why is brain hypoxia dangerous?

Even mild hypoxia of the brain is a dangerous condition for health, which leads to pathological changes that affect the entire body as a whole. The stronger the oxygen starvation, the more severe its consequences. The prognosis depends on the degree of damage to the brain tissue and how long the hypoxia lasted.

If a person fell into a coma for a short period of time, then the chances of a full rehabilitation are quite high. If the patient was not in a coma, then he will recover even faster (subject to the provision of adequate and timely medical care).

If a person has been in a coma for a long time, but got out of it, then such a state cannot remain without consequences. The life expectancy of such patients most often does not exceed one year. At the same time, bedsores form in bedridden patients, they are more susceptible to infectious diseases, the causative agents of which are hospital strains of bacteria. They are characterized by increased resistance to ongoing therapy. In immobilized patients, the risk of blood clots in the veins increases.

After suffering clinical death, a person may lose a number of neurological functions.

The forecast may be as follows:

A full recovery of brain functions and normalization of the state can occur in a few days or months if the brain tissue has not been destroyed. In this case, the patient throughout rehabilitation period will experience asthenic syndrome. Sometimes, after a significant improvement in well-being, its secondary deterioration may occur, while neurological disorders will be persistent.

Partial restoration of neurological functions is observed when some brain cells die. Rehabilitation and return of the patient to normal life is slow. Some functions may not be restored at all.

Complete recovery is rare, but if the treatment is carried out correctly, a stable remission can be achieved.

Brain cells do not recover after hypoxia, however, it is possible to achieve normalization of the state of the body. The brain has the ability to take over the functions of neighboring cells, but only partially. Therefore, help with hypoxia should be immediate. Otherwise, the complications and consequences of oxygen starvation of the brain will be critical.

Diagnosis of cerebral hypoxia

In order to diagnose cerebral hypoxia, it is possible to use the following instrumental and laboratory methods:

Blood sampling for general and gas analysis.

Performing an encephalogram of the head.

Conducting rheovasography, which provides information about the state of the vessels of the brain.

General or selective angiography, which allows you to evaluate the blood flow to the brain.

MRI is one of the most informative research methods, which provides the maximum amount of information about the state of the brain.

Capnography, which allows you to determine the amount of carbon dioxide in the air exhaled by a person. This method makes it possible to clarify the role of the lungs in terms of the development of cerebral hypoxia.

In addition, the doctor assesses the patient's condition, it is necessary to determine the presence of shortness of breath and. Of no small importance is the examination of the patient, the determination of reflexes and other symptoms that characterize this condition. To clarify the reasons that could provoke hypoxia, you need to find out if the patient has diseases internal organs whether he endured, etc.

Since cerebral hypoxia is most often associated with a number of factors, it is necessary to conduct complex therapy, which depends on the cause that led to this pathological condition.

If hypoxia was the result of a lack of oxygen in the inhaled air, then the person should be transferred to breathing normal air as soon as possible. Provided that the brain cells have not been destroyed, then recovery will not take much time, and all functional disorders will be eliminated. Sometimes patients are shown adding 3-7% carbon dioxide to ordinary oxygen. This will expand the vessels of the brain, stimulate the work of the respiratory center.

Provided that there is a foreign object or other obstruction in the airway, tracheal intubation and tracheotomy may be required. The patient is given a position that facilitates breathing.

With severe respiratory failure, or with total absence breathing requires assisted or artificial respiration, artificial lung ventilation. Oxygen therapy should be continuous and prolonged until it is no longer needed.

Blood transfusion, the appointment of cardiac and hypertensive drugs is required for circulatory hypoxia. In this case, it is important to normalize blood circulation. If the patient has a cardiac arrest, it is required to indirect massage using a defibrillator. The doctor may administer epinephrine, atropine, and take other resuscitation measures. All these activities should be as fast as possible, so it is possible that they can be carried out even in an ambulance.

For the treatment and prevention of cerebral hypoxia, drugs with an antihypoxic effect can be used. These are narcotic and neuroleptic drugs, drugs to reduce body temperature, etc. Sometimes glucocorticoids can help.

It is imperative to restore the acid-base and electrolyte balance in the body, but this already applies to symptomatic treatment. Seduxen, which is administered intravenously, allows to relieve convulsions. If this does not help, then the introduction of muscle relaxants is indicated.

To eliminate the consequences of cerebral hypoxia, it is possible to use drugs such as:

Galantamine.

Sodium oxybutyrate.
Pyridoxine.

Cerebrolysin.

Tranquilizers.

Vitamin and mineral complexes.

The patient will definitely have to visit the massage therapist's office and perform therapeutic gymnastic complexes.

First aid for a person with cerebral hypoxia

The only thing that a person who does not have a medical education for a victim with cerebral hypoxia can do is to provide him with fresh air and call him as quickly as possible. ambulance. Until the arrival of doctors, the room should be ventilated, all items of clothing that interfere with breathing should be removed from the victim.

The prognosis depends on how long the brain has suffered from oxygen starvation and on the severity of its damage. With pronounced changes, the foci of softening of the brain remain forever.

If a person has experienced a mild degree of hypoxia, then asthenic manifestations will persist for 2 weeks, but no more. With hypoxia of moderate severity, pronounced violations can remain throughout the year. They are expressed in hyperkinesis, mental disorders, unmotivated aggression and arousal, blindness and hallucinations.

If a person has suffered severe hypoxia, then psychopathy can be observed throughout life. The intellect suffers, convulsive seizures periodically occur, motor functions are disturbed, and sensitivity is lost.

With a deep coma, the prognosis is the most unfavorable.

About the doctor: From 2010 to 2016 practicing physician of the therapeutic hospital of the central medical unit No. 21, the city of Elektrostal. Since 2016, she has been working at the diagnostic center No. 3.

Cerebral hypoxia - persistent pathological change in tissues, developing due to an acute lack of oxygen. This condition can occur in any department and organ. The most dangerous is the phenomenon of prolonged hypoxia in the brain, which often causes death in medical practice.

What is hypoxia? In simple terms, this is the name of the condition caused by the oxygen starvation that has arisen. The central nervous system in humans has a rich blood supply, so that the necessary nutrients (such as glucose) and oxygen are constantly supplied to the brain. Brain structures are extremely sensitive to the lack of these elements.

According to the classification, the following types of cerebral hypoxia are distinguished:

Acute(Prerequisites for the development of a pathological condition are massive blood loss, poisoning and cardiovascular insufficiency, as a result of which the number of red blood cells and carried oxygen decreases).
subacute.
Chronic brain hypoxia (occurs in chronic heart failure, malformations, when the force of contraction becomes insufficient to transport oxygen and blood to the brain).
Lightning(it develops rapidly, the duration does not exceed a couple of minutes).

With prolonged hypoxia in any tissues, there is a disruption in the functioning of cells, their death.

What are the causes of pathology?

The clinical picture in cerebral hypoxia may differ depending on the cause that caused this pathology. This is especially important to take into account when prescribing appropriate treatment.

What are the causes of cerebral hypoxia?

Circulatory occurs after any pathologies in the cardiovascular system. A violation of blood circulation in the cerebral vessels develops, hypoxic-ischemic changes in the brain are observed.
Exogenous. The reasons for this type of hypoxia are considered to be a low oxygen content in the surrounding air (with a significant rise to the mountains, in a stuffy room).
Fabric. In violation of the adequate functioning of the body and developing pathologies of metabolism. Dangerous metabolites appear in the blood, which have an additional negative effect on brain tissue.
In diseases of the respiratory system, the delivery of oxygen is significantly disrupted not only to the cerebral, but to other tissues of the body.
With anemia - a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells - the ability of blood cells to carry oxygen decreases.

Clinical manifestations of brain hypoxia

With cerebral hypoxia, symptoms appear that are quite characteristic of this pathology. Manifestations differ depending on the form developing pathology and the reasons for its occurrence. The attending physician and the patient first of all pay attention to the following signs:

The state of euphoria and increased motor excitability are present if cerebral hypoxia is moderately developed, and the pathological processes are reversible.
Headache, vomiting, dizziness are reliable symptoms of insufficient oxygen supply to the brain.
The skin of a person with hypoxia first turns pale, and with prolonged oxygen starvation they begin to turn blue.
Cold clammy sweat, shivering.
At the very end, a phase develops that is the complete opposite of the first: inhibition of motor and emotional activity. This is a symptom of deep structural damage. nervous system.

Also, most patients have severe visual impairment, tactile sensitivity on the limbs, the absence or decrease in unconditioned reflexes, fainting often occurs, often turning into a deep coma. In children (especially the first years of life), in the vast majority of cases, cerebral edema develops.

Complications of oxygen starvation

Severe cerebral hypoxia of the brain is one of those conditions that require immediate medical attention. The overall prognosis depends on many factors, which include: the severity of the pathology, its causes, the presence of concomitant diseases, as well as the time elapsed since the onset of acute hypoxia. If the patient did not lose consciousness and did not fall into a coma, then the chances of successful rehabilitation after the acute period subsides are very high.

If a coma has developed, atrophic changes in the brain structures are rapidly growing, which can ultimately lead to pathologies of the nervous system. The life expectancy of a patient in a coma during hypoxia usually does not exceed one year.

It should be taken into account the fact that oxygen starvation contributes to the development of serious complications: thrombosis, the addition of infectious diseases.

The patient's condition after undergoing hypoxia

Tissues subjected to oxygen starvation do not fully restore their functions for a long time. However, with proper therapy, this indicator can be somewhat improved. The function of dead brain cells can be taken over by neighboring structures, so partial recovery is real.

The prognosis for the development of the disorder and the rehabilitation of a person depend on the severity of the pathology. If cerebral hypoxia was complicated by a coma or clinical death, then this will inevitably lead to disturbances in the central nervous system. Accordingly, conditioned and unconditioned reflexes, coordination, auditory, visual and taste analyzers will suffer. The recovery of such patients can be from one year to several years. Not all changes that have occurred will be reversible.

If cerebral hypoxia developed without complications, then rehabilitation can be up to one month, especially when there are no complications in the form of mental disorders and motor activity.

Brain hypoxia is difficult to treat, despite a wide range of drugs to treat pathologists. Full recovery of the patient is quite rare.

The sooner therapy is started, the greater the chances for a good prognosis of the disease (cells starve less, have not yet lost their ability to recover, and the focus of hypoxia is small).

What methods of examination allow suspecting hypoxia?

Outside the hospital, hypoxia can only be suspected indirectly by characteristic clinical signs hypoxia described above. And already in the hospital, a whole range of examinations is carried out to clarify the diagnosis. The most common and reliable methods are:

Ultrasound echography helps to establish the localization and even the cause of oxygen starvation already at early stage development of pathology. The affected brain structure is indicated, the volume of deaths nerve cells. Especially shown this method examinations for young children. In adults, ultrasound ultrasound even helps to provide an approximate prognosis for the development of pathological changes.
Pulse oximetry is the measurement of oxygen saturation in the blood as a percentage. A decrease in this indicator indicates acutely developing disorders in the human body. The diagnostic method is extremely accessible and is used everywhere.
Clinical blood tests: ions and other indicators of acid-base balance are especially important.
CT scan, MRI is very important diagnostic method, which, unfortunately, is not present in every hospital. Plain CT or MRI shows areas of cerebral edema, areas of nerve cell death, and healthy areas receiving the necessary oxygen.

For proper and qualified assistance to a patient who is suspected of developing or established cerebral hypoxia, it is necessary to first carry out the entire range of important examinations. Only having specified the localization and degree of hypoxic damage to the brain structures, one should proceed to adequate therapy for the pathology.

Drug treatment of oxygen starvation

The main task of therapeutic measures is to restore an adequate supply of the necessary oxygen to the brain. In the presence of concomitant diseases, they are also subject to correction as far as possible. It is important to remember that the earlier treatment is started, the more promising future rehabilitation of a person.

From medications prescribe iron supplements, multivitamins. The medicine improves blood circulation and normalizes metabolism in tissues. In most cases, the administration occurs intravenously or intramuscularly, and not in the form of tablets.

In severe forms, cerebral hypoxia is necessarily treated with antihypoxants, respiratory analeptics, drugs that dilate the bronchi. It is expedient in critical condition transfusion of whole blood, plasma, use of mechanical ventilation.

First emergency and medical aid for acute cerebral hypoxia

Treatment of cerebral hypoxia in a patient is as follows:

It is desirable (if possible) to eliminate the probable cause that led to the development of oxygen starvation.
It is imperative to ensure the flow of fresh air (take the victim outside, open the windows in the room, etc.)
The victim must be freed from the constraint respiratory movements clothes.
You should immediately call an ambulance.

In the future, the use of an oxygen mask with humidified oxygen is mandatory.

Prevention of pathology

There are many methods that are useful to use to prevent the development of brain damage. These include breathing exercises. It contributes to the stability of the central nervous structures during oxygen starvation, and is also useful for restoring the normal function of the systems.

The most popular are:

Eastern technology.
Principle of oxygen starvation.
Bodyflex.
Methodology according to Strelnikova.

However, before using the methods, you should consult with your doctor, since the selection of the most optimal technique for a person should be under direct control. medical worker. The use of breathing exercises does not replace the intake of medications, but only complements. Only acting in combination, they can help to avoid possible complications.

Conclusion

Hypoxia of the brain is a rather formidable pathology that requires immediate therapy. At timely diagnosis and the treatment started, it is possible to avoid numerous complications, reduce the rehabilitation time by several times. However, to prevent hypoxia, it is recommended to use breathing techniques.

Have you ever wondered what role oxygen plays in the life of an unborn baby? He is responsible for the metabolic processes that are especially intense in him. Knowing this, one can only imagine how and why hypoxia in newborns is dangerous.

The brain and nervous system need oxygen the most. And if in adults and already born children it enters the body in sufficient quantities due to the work of the lungs, then in the unborn, this duty is taken over by the placenta.

In order for her to fully cope with it, Mother Nature provides her with all the necessary conditions:

rapid fetal heart rate;
an increase in the volume of blood that the heart pushes into the vessels;
the presence of a specific form of hemoglobin in him - fetal, due to which a maximum of oxygen is transferred at a time.

These mechanisms allow the placenta to provide oxygen to the baby during normal operation. In the event of unforeseen circumstances (read: pathologies), the amount of oxygen that enters the blood of the fetus is not enough.

The brain cells are the first to suffer. They begin to die and disappear. At the same time, bleeding is observed in some parts of the brain, and hemorrhage in others. In place of dead cells, cavities are formed, which are subsequently filled with fluid and become cysts. Later, their location and number will allow the doctor to predict the outcome of treatment.

modern medicine unable to repair damaged departments. But it can "force" neighboring parts of the brain to take over the functions of the lost ones and, thereby, ensure the normal functioning of the entire nervous system.

Human body has in its arsenal a number of adaptive mechanisms to combat hypoxia:

The easiest way is to increase the frequency of breaths - breathing is frequent and deep, then, due to the inhibition of the respiratory center, breathing becomes intermittent, rare and superficial. It is most clearly observed in climbers ascending to great heights.
There is an increase in the frequency and strength of heart contractions, and blood pressure rises. This increases the supply of oxygen to the tissues.
Next comes the removal of all blood reserves (from the spleen and liver), due to which the total number of oxygen carriers in the body increases.
There is a slowdown in the functioning of individual organs, tissues and body systems in order to optimize the oxygen consumption in the body.

The last resort in the fight against hypoxia - the transition to alternative sources of energy - there is a breakdown of carbohydrates by the type of anaerobic glycolysis.

In this process, there is an active accumulation of lactic acid in the body, which leads to acidosis, which is associated with impaired microcirculation in tissues, and it also disrupts breathing and blood circulation in general.

It should be understood that all these mechanisms in acute hypoxia give a short-term effect, and if the cause is not eliminated, then death occurs after the depletion of the body's resources.

In chronic hypoxia, these mechanisms bring their all possible help, but the patient will constantly experience serious discomfort, from side effects these mechanisms.

The reasons

Doctors identify at least a dozen causes of hypoxia. But the most interesting thing is. Judge for yourself.

All of them are conditionally divided into 3 groups.

1. Mom's health problems:

anemia, or anemia;
the presence of bad habits (smoking, alcoholism, drugs);
cardiovascular diseases;
diseases of the genitourinary system;
bronchopulmonary diseases;
failures in endocrine system;
pregnancy under 18 or over 35;
stress, malnutrition, insomnia, infrequent walks in the fresh air.

2. Pathologies during pregnancy:

problems with the placenta;
histosis;
risk of miscarriage;
multiple pregnancy;
gestation or early childbirth;
entanglement of the umbilical cord.

3. Problems during childbirth:

cord entanglement;
large fruit;
birth trauma;
difficult childbirth;
the use of medicines.

The first two groups lead to the development of a chronic form of hypoxia and are diagnosed during pregnancy. The latter becomes the cause of the acute form, which is found after childbirth.

An experienced doctor can easily explain the probable processes that caused a particular disease. Today, anyone has access to the World Wide Web, where information about all diseases is stored.

But it is better to be aware of the possible consequences of any disease, addiction, lifestyle, in order to avoid the treatment of cerebral hypoxia.

Diseases of the expectant mother

Planning for pregnancy is a responsible step that will help to avoid possible problems. In the presence of the following pathologies, the mother is more attentive to the likelihood of developing hypoxia:

Anemia.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Respiratory diseases.
Acute infectious diseases urinary system.
The age of the mother.
Violation of the endocrine system.

Based on the causes of HGM, a classification has been created, which includes 7 types:

Exogenous - a decrease in oxygen in the environment - it can be a stuffy room, a high mountain plateau, paragliding at high altitude.
Respiratory occurs due to a violation of the penetration of air into the lungs - it can be drowning, bronchospasm, pulmonary edema, suffocation, etc.
Hemic - occurs when oxygen in the blood decreases, for example, with anemia, inhalation carbon monoxide or destruction of red blood cells.
Circulatory occurs when the functions of the cardiovascular system of the body are impaired.
Tissue appears when there are violations in the absorption of oxygen by the tissues of the body.
Overload - may appear during intense physical activity.
Mixed - occurs with prolonged hypoxia, due to the sum of several factors.

Being one of the most common pathologies, cerebral hypoxia in newborns is a lack of oxygen that can be observed in the fetus throughout pregnancy ( chronic form disease), and may occur directly during childbirth (acute form of the disease). It happens that such a condition of the baby leads to his disability and even death.

Causes of hypoxia

To prevent the disease, you need to know about the causes that can cause such a condition. If the expectant mother can protect herself from them, there is a chance that this trouble will not affect the child. Many factors really depend on the behavior and health of a woman. The first two groups of causes lead to the chronic form of the disease, and it manifests itself during pregnancy. The last group of factors provokes an acute form of hypoxia, which is diagnosed only after childbirth.

Health problems in the expectant mother:

broncho-pulmonary diseases;
anemia;

pathology of the placenta (abstraction, early aging, presentation);
toxicosis in the last months of pregnancy;
umbilical cord pathologists (nodes, entanglement);
early childbirth;
overwearing;
threat of interruption;
multiple pregnancy;
oligohydramnios / polyhydramnios;
pathology in fetal development.

prolonged/difficult labor;
entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord;
C-section;
early childbirth;
large fruit;
birth trauma;
use of various tools (for example, tongs);
the use of medical preparations.

An extensive list of reasons shows that both the mother, who did not comply with medical prescriptions for the normal course of pregnancy, and doctors who showed themselves unprofessionally during childbirth, can be to blame for the hypoxia of the newborn. In some cases, there is a confluence of circumstances, somewhere the mother's sickly organism cannot cope with such difficult processes as childbearing and childbirth.

Hypoxia can be detected already during pregnancy (read more about this in the previous article), and appropriate measures must be taken to properly treat the baby. However, very often the diagnosis is made after childbirth. How do you know if a child is developing oxygen deficiency?

Symptoms and signs

Hypoxia in a newborn most often has pronounced symptoms, which is not difficult to make an accurate, correct diagnosis immediately after the birth of the baby. This allows you to start treatment on time and cope with the disease. The main symptoms of hypoxia in newborns are:

tachycardia (heart contraction occurs at an increased frequency);
bradycardia (the reverse indicator is a significant decrease in the frequency of contraction of the heart muscle);
arrhythmia (violation of the rhythm of heart contractions);
the presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid;
murmurs in the heart;
hypovolemia (small volume of blood);
the formation of blood clots in the vessels, which entail tissue hemorrhages.

Doctors distinguish between several degrees of hypoxia using a special Apgar scale. It evaluates how fully the systems of a small organism function:

A mild degree is characterized by a gradual improvement in the condition of the newborn immediately, within a few minutes. The second degree may require several days to fully restore the normal functions of a small organism. The third requires full treatment, which includes measures for primary resuscitation and subsequent care.

Treatment of hypoxia in infants

The further recovery of the baby will depend on the sequence of medical actions and the professionalism of doctors. Proper Treatment hypoxia in newborns involves the following set of measures:

restoration of normal breathing: cleansing of the respiratory tract, oral and nasal cavities from mucus;
warming the child with heating pads and a special table;
the use of drugs to stimulate blood circulation and restore breathing;
the use of an oxygen mask if the baby's breathing could not be restored;
in a serious condition, the child is placed in a pressure chamber.

When the symptoms of hypoxia in newborns disappear, they are discharged from the hospital. The recovery period requires constant monitoring not only by the district pediatrician, but also by a neurologist. You will have to protect the baby from the slightest stress, carefully monitor his diet and sleep patterns. Massage therapy, soothing baths and aromatherapy sessions are often prescribed.

In severe forms, the treatment of hypoxia in infants involves the appointment of medications: sedatives and stimulants of the heart and brain activity. With late detection of the disease or untimely treatment, hypoxia can turn into terrible consequences for the health of the baby.

What is dangerous hypoxia in newborns

Most often, the consequences of hypoxia in newborns depend on the degree of the disease. The first passes quickly, without affecting the health of the baby at all. The second will be fraught with temporary slow and depressed reflexes, but these consequences will soon pass, also leaving no mark on the child's health. In the third degree, there may be:

anxiety;
sleep disturbance;
muscle cramps;
delay in mental and physical development;
disturbances in the work of the brain;
fatal outcome.

Death with today's level of medicine is an exception. Chronic and acute hypoxia today is a very common problem that doctors quite successfully cope with, completely eliminating or minimizing its consequences.

Various causes can lead to such a state as hypoxia: existing diseases of the mother, pathologies of the fetus, problems encountered during childbirth.

Factors that can lead to chronic brain hypoxia:

pathology in a pregnant woman from the respiratory system, blood vessels and heart, thyroid gland, pancreas;
anemia, urinary tract infections in the expectant mother;
the age of a woman under 18 and after 35 years;
stress, poor sleep and nutrition, lack of walks in the fresh air, bad habits pregnant;
detachment or aging of the placenta;
entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord;
toxicosis on later dates;
multiple pregnancy;
a lot or a lack of water;
risk of miscarriage;
fetal malformations.

Complications that occur during childbirth, which lead to acute hypoxia:

premature / late birth;
taking painkillers;
uterine rupture;
rapid childbirth;
protracted childbirth;
the use of medical instruments to extract the newborn;
discrepancy between the lumen of the birth canal of the mother and the size of the child;
blockage of the respiratory tract of the newborn with amniotic fluid or mucus.

Diseases of the fetus and mother, pathological course of pregnancy, complicated childbirth lead to primary hypoxia in newborns:

intrauterine infections (herpes, chlamydia, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, cytomegalovirus, rubella);
fetal malformations;
immunological incompatibility of the blood of the fetus and mother;
extragenital diseases of the pregnant ( diabetes, thyrotoxicosis, acute and chronic diseases lungs, heart defects, anemia);
obstruction of the respiratory tract of a newborn with mucus or amniotic fluid (aspiration hypoxia);
aggravated obstetric anamnesis (pregnancy prolongation, premature detachment of the placenta, preeclampsia);
the presence of bad habits in the mother (smoking, alcohol abuse, drug addiction).

diseases of cardio-vascular system(heart disease, hypotension, hypertension, vegetative-vascular dystonia);
broncho-pulmonary diseases;
anemia;
infectious infection of the genitourinary system;
age threshold below 18 or over 35;
non-compliance with the daily routine and proper lifestyle: frequent stress, lack of sleep, lack of fresh air, poor nutrition;
bad habits (alcoholism, drug addiction, smoking);
disturbances in the work of the endocrine system.

Types of brain hypoxia

Hypoxia is classified according to the reasons that caused it:

Respiratory - the result of not entering the lungs of air during bronchospasm, drowning, suffocation, pulmonary edema.
Circulatory - develops when the cardiovascular system fails.
Exogenous - is formed as a result of a person's stay in a room where there is a lack of fresh air, in conditions of high mountain peaks, in a submarine, flying on non-motorized aircraft, working in mines.
Hemic - lowering the level of oxygen in the blood (anemia, hemolysis of red blood cells, carbon monoxide).
Tissue - is formed with violations in the process of assimilation of oxygen in the body at the tissue level.
Overload - develops with excessive physical loads.
Mixed - manifests itself under the simultaneous influence of several causes.

4. Degrees of hypoxia according to the Apgar scale

Moms, remember that cherished Apgar score that our baby gets when they are born? I'm sure many of us are confused by it. Especially those who initially did not know that this 10-point scale allows you to evaluate the work of all systems of the baby's body.

If, with a mild and moderate degree of the disease, treatment is not required or required, but minimal, then with severe, the most serious consequences are possible. Only good care and well-chosen therapy will help to avoid them.

Hypoxia of the brain in children

Laminin in cerebral hypoxia in children

The topic of today's article: Hypoxia of the brain in children. What is this disease?

Personally, until the last moment, I didn’t know anything about this until I watched the video located at the end of the article and started looking for information on the Internet.

It turns out that cerebral hypoxia in children is not a disease at all, but a consequence of oxygen starvation of the brain during pregnancy or during the birth itself.

Among the various pathologies during the birth period, cerebral hypoxia in children is most often manifested. Often, with hypoxia, there is a serious danger to the health of the child and even his life.

With a severe form of cerebral hypoxia in newborns, there is a danger of disability, and sometimes death. As a result of cerebral hypoxia in a child, both the entire body and organs, systems and individual tissues suffer.

Hypoxia appears (as I said) as a result of prolonged breath holding, diseases of the newborn, asphyxia of the fetus, which makes breathing inferior.

What happens next? Most likely, it should be expected that a newborn child, due to oxygen starvation of the brain, will begin to develop irreversible disturbances in the functioning of vital systems and organs.

First of all, the heart muscle reacts to a lack of oxygen, then the central nervous system, kidneys, liver and lungs are connected. You can talk for a long time about the causes of cerebral hypoxia in children, but this does not solve the problem.

I invite friends to watch the video below, with an enthusiastic review of the use of Laminin to solve this problem.

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Hypoxia in children causes oxygen starvation of the body (the central nervous system, liver, heart, kidneys, lungs suffer). Depending on its severity, changes in the brain can be irreversible, cause neurological diseases in the newborn or asphyxia.

Very often, this condition is observed in the fetus during the prenatal period due to maternal diseases (toxicosis, poisoning, alcohol, smoking, systemic pathologies) and during childbirth (umbilical cord entanglement, trauma, difficult childbirth). To assess the condition of the child after birth, a special Apgar scale is used.

Most of the causes that cause hypoxia in children can be avoided. Therefore, the expectant mother should be very careful about her health.

Signs of hypoxia in non-borns are determined even in the maternity hospital immediately after birth. These include:

cyanosis skin;
tremor of arms, legs, chin when crying;
hard breath;
bad sleep;
no cry after birth;
primary adaptation to the external environment is broken;
the child often shudders;
feeding anxiety.

The result of hypoxia in such children may be neurological diseases(encephalopathy, disability) and even death. The consequences of hypoxia during childbirth can manifest themselves after several months and even a year, when a child is diagnosed with a delay in psychological development, speech, restlessness, and poor concentration.

In case of hypoxia of newborns, resuscitation measures are taken:

clearing the airways of mucus;
artificial respiration;
external heart massage;
warm (warm the child);
infusions with nutrient solutions.

The normal course of pregnancy can greatly complicate the diagnosis, which sounds threatening to the expectant mother - “fetal hypoxia”. According to statistics, every third pregnant woman faces such a problem to one degree or another. Why a child begins to suffer from a lack of oxygen and how dangerous it is for his health, we will tell in this article.

In severe forms, the treatment of hypoxia in infants involves the appointment of medications: sedatives and stimulants of cardiac and brain activity. With late detection of the disease or untimely treatment, hypoxia can turn into terrible consequences for the health of the baby.

Treatment during pregnancy

The established fact of hypoxia during pregnancy should in no case be ignored, a quick and effective therapy to minimize possible consequences for the baby. Doctors urge expectant mothers, first of all, to calm down, since excessive nervous experiences only aggravate the already rather difficult condition of the child.

In the later stages, severe hypoxia may be an indication for urgent delivery by caesarean section. For more early dates When the baby is still very early to be born, doctors will try to do everything possible to make the baby feel better. Treatment can be done at home, but on condition that the severity of hypoxia does not exceed 1 degree. The remaining cases are subject to urgent hospitalization and constant monitoring of the pregnant woman and the baby in the hospital.

If a woman has an underlying disease, which, presumably, was the cause of oxygen deficiency, then treatment should also include therapy for this disease.

Two specialists take part in this - an obstetrician-gynecologist, who knows what is possible and what is impossible for his patient in an “interesting” position, and a specialist doctor in charge of the disease. They should prescribe medications and manipulations together, the treatment, as it was before pregnancy, usually changes.

A child who has experienced acute birth hypoxia, in the very first hours after birth, will be provided with a powerful vascular therapy, he will also be injected with sedatives, vitamins, especially group B. The neurologist will observe the baby from the first hours of his independent life.

Signs of manifestation of the disease

Obstetricians immediately identify the likelihood of developing hypoxia in a newborn child, as this is facilitated by a number of reasons. Some future mothers neglect timely visits to a specialist. Sound the alarm if you experience the following symptoms:

violation of the rhythm of the fetal heart (arrhythmia);
tachycardia or bradycardia - an accelerated or slow rhythm, respectively;
murmurs in the heart.

The main signs of hypoxia in a newborn are a bluish tint of the skin, shortness of breath or its absence, violations heart rate, heart murmurs. When born, it usually screams or the cry of the newborn will be very weak. Often with hypoxia, meconium (original feces) is present in the amniotic fluid.

One of the main symptoms of hypoxia is the bluish tint of the baby's skin.

When the general indicators score 8–10 points, this is the norm, 6–7 points is a mild degree, 4–5 points is an average degree, and 0–3 points is a severe degree of hypoxia. With a mild degree, the condition of the newborn improves within a few minutes. With an average degree, the functionality of the organs is restored in a few days. Severe degree requires resuscitation, complex treatment and monitoring the child's condition in the future.

In children with a chronic form, convulsive muscle contractions, tremors, muscle hypotension, and blood pressure disorders are observed. This may give rise to various kinds hematomas, impaired functioning of the liver, kidneys, heart and other organs.

With a short-term or mild lack of oxygen, doctors may not immediately determine the dangerous condition. Such hypoxia is called latent, it is considered more dangerous, because therapeutic measures begin to be taken much later. Latent hypoxia has similar manifestations:

trembling of the newborn during crying;
the sleep of the baby is unimportant, very sensitive;
the baby is restless, capricious, often freezes;
while bathing, the child constantly cries;
the newborn has muscle tension, especially on the face.

Detection of any of these symptoms requires urgent medical examination and treatment.

If the hypoxia of the brain proceeded for a long time, it will become noticeable by the delay in the mental and physical development of the child.

8–10 points - excellent condition of the newborn, who is not threatened by any hypoxia;
7–6 points - hypoxia of the 1st degree, a mild form of the disease;
5–4 points - hypoxia of the 2nd degree, medium form;
3-0 points - hypoxia of the 3rd degree, severe form.

Outwardly, the presence of a disease in infants can be determined by:

bluish tint of the skin;
difficult breathing;
lack of breath;
failure of the heart rhythm;
noise in the heart muscle;
weak cry after birth.

Often in the amniotic fluid there is an original feces, called meconium.

From the first to the fifth minute of life, starting from birth, specialists assess the child's condition using a specialized Apgar scale. To do this, it is necessary to start from 0 to 2 points for each of the above indicators:

color of the epidermis;
presence and power respiratory functions;
frequency of contraction of the heart muscle;
response to external factors or the presence of a reflex;
muscle tone.

The norm is considered if the total amount of indicators was from 8 to 10 points. A mild degree of pathology is observed from 6 to 7, an average degree is from 4 to 5. A serious condition is noted if there are no points recorded at all or their sum was no more than 3.

A severe degree of pathology requires close attention of doctors, resuscitation measures are possible.

If the pathology has a short-term manifestation or specialists cannot immediately determine the insufficient level of oxygen in the child after birth, then therapeutic measures are taken later, which leads to a risk to the life of the baby. This is called latent hypoxia, which manifests itself as follows:

trembling of the body when the baby cries;
poor sleep, reaction to the slightest rustle;
the child is naughty and often freezes;
while taking a bath, the little one is naughty;
facial muscles are in constant tension.

If at least one of these symptoms is detected, it is not necessary to postpone the examination in order to start treatment as soon as possible.

If the disease proceeded for a long time, then this, as a rule, affects the mental and physical development of the baby.

skin color;
breath;
heartbeat;
the presence of reflexes;
muscle tone.

Symptoms and signs

Initially, a person experiences an excitation of the central nervous system up to a state of euphoria, but at the same time, muscle tone decreases, which leads to fuzzy movements and an uncertain, shaky gait. The skin can both blush and turn pale, turn blue (the patient is covered with cold sweat).

With cerebral hypoxia, one of the symptoms is inhibition of the central nervous system - manifested in the form of nausea, vomiting, dizziness.

With further deterioration, visual disturbances occur - defocusing, dark circles appear. Then the patient loses consciousness.

All this can lead to cerebral edema, which first causes the loss of conditioned reflexes, and then the unconditioned ones also disappear. After this, the failure of internal organs, coma and death begins.

Symptoms and signs

The main sign of hypoxia in newborns is respiratory disorders, which lead to disturbances in cardiac activity, hemodynamics, reflexes and muscle tone.

Immediately after birth and 5 minutes later, in order to identify possible hypoxia and determine its severity, the state of the newborn is assessed using the Apgar scale. This methodology is based on an assessment from 0 to 2 points of the following indicators:

breath;
skin color;
heartbeat;
the severity of muscle tone;
reflex excitability.

In the absence of hypoxia, newborns score 8–10 points on the Apgar scale. With a mild degree of hypoxia, the score is 6-7 points, with an average degree - 4-5 points, with severe - 0-3 points.

Symptoms of hypoxia in newborns of mild degree:

the first breath occurs in the first minute of life;
weakened breathing;
decreased muscle tone;
cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle.

With moderate hypoxia in newborns, the following are observed:

weakened irregular breathing;
weak cry;
bradycardia;
reduced reflex excitability;
decreased muscle tone;
acrocyanosis.

Severe hypoxia in newborns is manifested by the following symptoms:

lack of breathing (apnea) or single irregular respiratory movements;
severe bradycardia;
significant hypo- or atony of muscles;
lack of reflexes;
pallor of the skin;
adrenal insufficiency.

Newborns with hypoxia in the first day of life may develop a posthypoxic syndrome, characterized by impaired liquorodynamics and cerebral circulation.

severe forms oxygen starvation pose a serious danger to the newborn, can cause disability or death.

Hypoxia of the brain has a clear clinical picture:

increased excessive excitability (energy, euphoria, unsteady gait);
the skin becomes either pale, or reddened, or has a bluish tint;
cold sweat;
inhibition of CNS activity (nausea, dizziness, severe vomiting);
visual impairment;
loss of consciousness;
cerebral edema;
loss of conditioned reflexes, and then unconditioned ones;
disappearance of skin sensitivity;
cessation of the work of internal organs;
as an option, a person may fall into a state of coma with disorders in the brain.

Subject to gravity given state, health care and therapeutic measures should be carried out at the first symptoms of cerebral hypoxia, which will prevent complications and Negative consequences. Timely treatment is the key to a favorable prognosis in this case.

A chronic form of oxygen starvation of the brain is formed against the background of such pathologies:

encephalopathy;
sleep apnea;
atherosclerosis;
vertebral artery syndrome;
encephalopathy of the hypertensive type.

The resulting oxygen starvation in a baby often has an extensive severity of symptoms, which is not difficult to establish a 100% diagnosis immediately after the end of childbirth. This favorable factor helps to immediately begin treatment of the disease. Hypoxia of the brain in a newborn can manifest itself in such symptoms as:

Tachycardia and bradycardia (high heart rate and, accordingly, low frequency);
Pathology of heart contractions (arrhythmia);
The presence of heart murmurs;
hypovolemia;
Thrombus formation, which can lead to hemorrhage.

Also, in the first and fifth minutes of a newborn's life, doctors assess the baby's condition using a special Apgar scale. Points are given for such indicators as:

The nature of the color of the skin;
The degree of breathing of the baby;
The nature of the heartbeat;
The development of reflexes;
Muscle tone.

If the total score is:

From 8 to 10 points, then the condition of the baby is considered excellent;
From 6 to 7 points - hypoxia of the first degree (mild);
From 5 to 4 points - hypoxia of the second degree (medium);
From 0 to 3 points - hypoxia of the third degree (severe).

A mild degree is considered not dangerous, since after a few minutes the child is fully restored. The average degree already requires several days for the complete recovery of the baby. Hypoxia of the brain in severe cases in a newborn requires immediate treatment.

Diagnostics

The primary diagnosis of hypoxia in newborns is based on the Apgar score. To confirm the diagnosis, a study of the acid-base composition of the blood is carried out.

For differential diagnosis traumatic and hypoxic damage to the nervous system, ultrasonography (ultrasound of the brain) and a neurological examination of the newborn are performed.

Lesions of the central nervous system, caused by oxygen starvation, are manifested by increased neuro-reflex excitability (against the background of severe hypoxia, inhibition of reflexes is noted), the absence of focal symptoms.

The effectiveness of treatment directly depends on the identification of the cause of hypoxia. To do this, conduct a thorough diagnosis.

Inspection

The doctor conducts an initial examination of the patient, collects an anamnesis, evaluates the signs of pathology.

Laboratory diagnosis of cerebral hypoxia

General analysis blood.
The gas composition of the blood (determination of the state of the bicarbonate and carbonate buffer, indicators of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, oxygen).

Instrumental examination methods

In case of hypoxia, the following hardware diagnostics are used:

Electroencephalogram - allows you to get information about the work of brain cells.
CO-metry and capnography are used to determine the gases in the exhaled air.
Doppler ultrasonography - diagnostics of blood flow features.
Echocardiogram.
Computed tomography of the head.
Reovasography.
An electrocardiogram to assess cardiac activity.
MTR head.
Angiography (general, selective) - the study of cerebral vessels.
Pulse oximetry - used to assess the level of oxygen saturation in the blood (

Hypoxia of the brain in medicine is called a disease in which the human brain receives an insufficient amount of oxygen. Given pathological condition can have serious consequences up to coma and death. It should be said that very often the death of a person affected by such a disease is sudden. Symptoms and treatment of cerebral hypoxia in different patients directly depend on the causes that provoked the disease.

Causes of brain hypoxia

As already noted, the very first cause of brain hypoxia is the lack of oxygen supplying this vital organ. This pathology can be caused various states, for example, climbing to a height, working in mines, in submarines, etc. In addition, a lack of oxygen can be caused by other factors. The airways can often become blocked foreign bodies or slime. Also, the cause of brain hypoxia can be an acute shortage of specific vitamins in the human body.

Among other common causes that provoke the occurrence this disease, the following can be distinguished:

Inhalation of carbon monoxide (for example, during a fire);
Carbon monoxide poisoning;
Diseases that disrupt the functioning of the respiratory muscles (paralysis);
Strong pressure on the throat area (trachea).

Also, for reasons of brain hypoxia, this pathology can be classified as follows:

diffuse hypoxia;
Central cerebral ischemia;
Global cerebral ischemia;
Ischemic stroke.

Disseminated hypoxia of the brain is provoked by an insufficient amount of oxygen in the blood of a person and is characterized by dysfunction from low to moderate severity.

Central cerebral ischemia is an impaired blood circulation in a localized area, which can be the result of various diseases (for example, an aneurysm or a thrombus, manifested by blockage of blood vessels). It is important to note that this condition is an addition to most clinical infarcts. Global ischemia is also called the complete cessation of blood supply to the brain.

Severe ischemic stroke is also triggered by a lack of oxygen due to impaired blood circulation. Such an attack covers many parts of the body.

Symptoms of brain hypoxia

Every 100 g of the brain needs approximately 3.3 ml of oxygen every minute. When this amount is not provided, the first symptoms of brain hypoxia begin to appear. They involve, as a rule, some difficulties in performing mental tasks and a violation of a person’s short-term memory. In addition, at the initial stage of the disease, a state of increased excitability is often observed.

The patient may feel excessive energy and even euphoria, which is accompanied by loss of control over their own movements, unsteady gait, rapid heart rate, and cognitive impairment in general. In addition, the first stage of cerebral hypoxia is characterized by changes in human skin color. Most often it becomes pale with a bluish tint, but sometimes it can also acquire a dark red color. Often a symptom of brain hypoxia at this stage is cold sweat.

The second stage of the disease is characterized by impaired functioning of the human nervous system. The patient, as a rule, has regular bouts of nausea and dizziness, often the disease is accompanied by severe vomiting. In addition, very often additional symptoms of brain hypoxia in the second stage are blurred vision, frequent blackouts, general weakness of the body, and even fainting.

Severe cases of this disease are often accompanied by cerebral edema, which provokes serious disorders in its activity due to the loss of conditioned, and then unconditioned reflexes. If the amount of oxygen for the brain continues to be below normal, the human skin loses sensitivity, and then all organs gradually cease to function normally, which often leads to a state of deep coma and death.

Diagnosis and treatment of cerebral hypoxia

Effective treatment of brain hypoxia is possible only after the cause of the disease has been established. It is detected both on the basis of the patient's medical history, and with the help of diagnostics by various methods:

Blood tests;
An electrocardiogram, which helps measure the activity of the heart;
An electroencephalogram that analyzes the functioning of brain cells;
Echocardiogram;
Computed tomography of the head;
Magnetic resonance imaging of the head;
Pulse oximetry, which helps to establish blood oxygen saturation (the indicator in a sick person is below 95%);
Capnography and other types of examination of gases of exhaled air.

As already mentioned, the treatment of brain hypoxia is aimed primarily at eliminating the cause of the disease, therefore, in different cases, the doctor prescribes various procedures. For example, when mild form sometimes it is enough to simply ventilate the room or walk in the fresh air, while serious conditions require serious medical procedures. So, it is possible to distinguish individual methods of treating brain hypoxia, depending on its specific type:

Exogenous hypoxia involves the use of oxygen equipment (oxygen masks, balloons, pillows);
Respiratory hypoxia requires the use of drugs that restore the work of the respiratory tract. Sometimes artificial ventilation of the lungs is prescribed;
Hemic hypoxia is treated with blood transfusion and oxygen treatment;
Circulatory hypoxia of the brain involves the use of drugs with a cardiotropic effect aimed at improving microcirculation;
With tissue hypoxia, drugs are prescribed that restore the utilization of oxygen by tissues, sometimes ventilation of the lungs is used.

In addition, often with a lack of oxygen, doctors recommend taking vitamins and walking in the fresh air.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article: