Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a type of birth injury that occurs when the white brain matter around the ventricles becomes injured or dies from insufficient blood or oxygen flow, which creates holes or gaps in the brain. Infants with periventricular leukomalacia may experience significant developmental delays and permanent motor disorders. While periventricular leukomalacia can happen in any infant, this condition can often be traced back to a medical provider’s failure to observe their legal duty of care during the birth.
If your child has been diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia, and you believe that your physician’s care during gestation or delivery was below the acceptable standard, you should consult with a birth injury attorney immediately. A Connecticut periventricular leukomalacia lawyer can investigate your potential case and fight tirelessly to get your family justice through a settlement or lawsuit.
If blood or oxygen flow is impaired at any time during gestation, delivery, or the neonatal period, an infant may be at risk for periventricular leukomalacia. This condition is also commonly linked to bleeding inside the brain. An infant at any stage of gestation may develop periventricular leukomalacia, but premature babies are typically most at risk for this condition.
Risk factors such as sepsis during pregnancy or birth, as well as placental abnormalities, have been linked to periventricular leukomalacia. Expectant mothers with hypertension or who are carrying multiples may also present high-risk cases and should be closely monitored by medical staff to mitigate the possibility of periventricular leukomalacia and similar infant conditions.
There are numerous ways to diagnose periventricular leukomalacia, but tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computed tomography (CT) scan, or cranial ultrasound are the most common methods. Symptoms of periventricular leukomalacia may not be immediately apparent but will often worsen as the child grows and matures, particularly within the first few years of life.
Signs that are commonly associated with periventricular leukomalacia include:
Mental and physical delays, spastic diplegia, cerebral palsy, and other muscular issues are also potential symptoms of periventricular leukomalacia.
Periventricular leukomalacia is not curable, but developmental specialists can prove vital to help children manage symptoms of the condition. Some children may improve with proper therapy, while others may require lifelong medical care. If you believe that a medical professional’s negligence caused or contributed to your child’s periventricular leukomalacia diagnosis, you should speak with a Connecticut lawyer who can determine whether you have an actionable case.
There are numerous forms of medical negligence that could cause a child to develop periventricular leukomalacia. Some examples include failing to adequately monitor the mother, failing to monitor premature infants, or inadequate responses to fetal distress during labor and delivery.
Improper management of maternal health issues or newborn symptoms may also delay the diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia. This type of medical negligence can worsen the condition and possible outcomes for the child, leading to catastrophic injuries.
A Connecticut attorney can manage all aspects of your legal case so you can focus on helping your child who has been diagnosed periventricular leukomalacia. A lawyer can thoroughly investigate your child’s birth to assess whether their periventricular leukomalacia was caused by medical negligence.
An attorney can also handle the lawsuit process and ensure the necessary documents are filed correctly and on time. A lawyer will negotiate on your behalf for the maximum amount of compensation recoverable for your child’s injuries while actively working to hold all parties involved accountable, including the hospital, physician, and any other negligent members of the medical team.
Periventricular leukomalacia is a complex and incurable birth injury that can lead to lifelong disabilities. Besides a permanent impact on your child’s quality of life, periventricular leukomalacia will usually require specialty forms of care such as physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.
If your child’s birth injury could have been prevented if not for a physician’s lack of care, these are all costs that could be recoverable in a successful birth injury lawsuit. A Connecticut periventricular leukomalacia lawyer can build a case that reflects the full value of your family’s losses while actively working to maximize available damages.
Contact Berkowitz Hanna today to speak with a lawyer in a one-on-one consultation and discuss your top legal options. We can provide a free case review to evaluate your potential claim and help you understand what course of action to take next.
Berkowitz Hanna
