Persistent pulmonary hypertension is a severe and sometimes fatal disease that is often preventable with the right complication management steps during labor and delivery. This website is intended to educate visitors and parents interested in pursuing a birth injury claim in hopes of creating better understanding of the condition, its physical effects, and its financial consequences.
Symptoms of PPHN
Any of the following abnormalities could indicate a newborn is suffering from PPHN:
- Heavy/rapid breathing
- Difficulty breathing
- Fast heart rate
- Respiratory distress
- Bluish colored skin
- Lethargy
- Heart murmur
- Edema (swelling of the hands or feet)
- Weak pulse
- Low blood pressure
- Low oxygen saturation
- Enlarged liver
- Sweating
Diagnosing PPHN
When PPHN is not immediately apparent upon delivery, breathing irregularities often prompt parents to make an emergency room visit.
During the diagnostic process, your physician may perform imaging and lab tests to find the source of the problem. Chest X-rays, an echocardiogram, and an ultrasound help rule out other conditions and reveal blood flow abnormalities. The arterial blood glass (ABG) and complete blood count (CBD) tests help doctors determine the composition of the blood. A pulse oximetry test can reveal dangerously low oxygen levels in the blood.
After a Diagnosis
Once you have been given a comprehensive update on your child’s PPHN and discussed the prognosis, a neonatologist will assist you in creating and managing a PPHN treatment plan. The estimated costs of your child’s short- and long-term treatment will be used to determine your compensation amount for your birth injury claim.
Your legal team should handle all of the paperwork and red tape involved with your birth injury case so you can concentrate on caring for your child. Your attorneys should work quickly to get your family the money you need to pay for comprehensive PPHN treatment.
To learn more about PPHN and your legal rights, please contact Bob Goldwater today.
