Treatment for Anoxic Brain Injury

The human brain needs a constant supply of oxygen. Anoxic brain injury, is an injury to the brain that is caused when the brain cells are starved of oxygen. The brain cells get destroyed within four minutes, if they do not get adequate oxygen. There are several conditions that can block the regular oxygen supply. Any impairment to the brain cells, may result in severe damage to the functioning of the brain. Suffocation, arrhythmia, heart attack, blood clot, asphyxia and stroke are some of the risk factors that may reduce the regular oxygen supply to the brain. Difficulty in talking, short-term memory loss, visual disturbances, movement disorders and unconsciousness are some of the symptoms of anoxic brain injury.

Treatment for Anoxic Brain Injury

The treatment for anoxic brain injury, is initiated by trying to find the reason for the reduction in oxygen supply. There is no direct treatment for anoxic brain injury, that can be given to the patient. The cause of the brain injury is treated. The diagnostic methods used to find the cause of the anoxic brain injury, include tests like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), CT scan, electroencephalogram and blood tests. The treatment for anoxic brain injury can be divided into two phases; of which, the first phase is treating the cause of lowered oxygen supply to the brain and the second phase addresses the rehabilitation of the patient.

Treatment for Lowered Oxygen Supply

The first phase of the treatment, aims at finding the cause, annulling it to prevent further damage and restoring the oxygen level to normal. For example, if the cause of anoxic brain injury is a blood clot, then the first phase of treatment focuses on the dissolution of the blood clot. Along with the treatment for the cause that triggered the anoxic brain injury, medication is given and care taken, to avoid any further damage to the brain. There are chances of increase in temperature of the brain due to the reduction in oxygen supply. Hence, it is ensured that the patient is kept under controlled temperatures. Swelling of the brain is avoided by giving steroids to the patient. Brain activity of such patients should be restrained. Thus, barbiturates, a type of depressants, may be administered to suppress the activity of the entire nervous system. Long periods of unconsciousness may lead to brain death, which refers to a condition when the brain stops working altogether. To avoid this, patients are kept on ventilators to maintain the normal level of oxygen. The cause for anoxic brain injury should be treated at the earliest, to ensure maximum and speedy recovery.

Rehabilitation

Once the oxygen level is restored, it is necessary to initiate the rehabilitation of the patient. The time taken by the patient to recover, may vary from a period of a few months to many years. However, complete recovery is not usually achievable. The recovery time depends on the severity of the brain injury and the efforts taken by the patient, the doctors and the family members of the patient. Specialist doctors like occupational therapist, speech therapist, physiotherapist and neuropsychologist can help in the rehabilitation of the patient.

The family members of the patient should develop a good relationship with the doctors, as the recovery takes a long period of time. Many a times, it is observed that patient and his family members, experience frustration due to the prolonged time required for recovery. The improvement in the condition of a patient of anoxic brain injury, is very slow and this may lead to disappointment within the rehabilitation team. The following list gives some tips that can be of help to the family members of the patient.

• As soon as the level of oxygen is restored, consult the specialist doctors who can best help the patient in rehabilitation.
• Work as a team with the specialist doctors and assist them if required. You can help the patient with the regular exercises suggested by the specialists.
• Try and motivate the patient in every possible way.
• Encourage the patient with every progress made.

Treatment for anoxic brain injury is arduous and one that is physically and emotionally strenuous for both, the patient and his/ her family members. It is important that family members involved in the treatment of the patient, should take adequate care of their own physical and emotional health. The treatment, though taxing, can show marked improvement in the patient, with the support of the family members.