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Brain Haemorrhage - Medical Negligence
Thousands of clinical compensation claims are initiated every year in the United Kingdom by medical negligence solicitors on behalf of people from all walks of life. A multitude of operations and procedures are executed successfully however a small percentage do go wrong, laying the grounds for medical negligence solicitors to take legal action in order to claim compensation. Both legal aid and the no win no fee scheme are available to pursue medical negligence compensation claims.
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A brain haemorrhage is a condition where a blood vessel, usually an artery, bursts inside the brain so that there is localized bleeding within the brain tissue itself. Bleeding in the brain from a brain haemorrhage kills brain cells, resulting in a type of stroke called haemorrhagic stroke. About 13 percent of all strokes are caused by a brain haemorrhage. When the blood spreads in a part of the brain, it causes swelling of the brain called cerebral edema. The blood itself pools in a mass called a cerebral haematoma. Both the swelling of the surrounding of the brain and the haematoma cause pressure to be applied to surrounding brain tissue, which can further damage cells and which can cause a usually fatal condition known as herniation syndrome, in which a portion of the brain pushes down on the hole where the brainstem passes through the base of the skull.
Risk factors for a brain haemorrhage include trauma to the brain, especially in those under age 50. Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of brain heamorrhage in younger people. High blood pressure is a condition which weakens blood vessel walls and can cause a blood vessel to rupture. This is more common in those over the age of fifty. An aneurysm can cause a brain haemorrhage. Aneurysms are bulging areas of arteries that can burst if the blood pressure is too high. Most people with aneurysms are born with them. Blood vessel problems such as angiomas or haemangiomas in the brain are congenital and can burst at any time.
If you have haemophilia, you can bleed from just about anywhere because your blood does not clot very well. Brain haemorrhages are possible. This is also the case with liver disease in which your blood clotting factors are not made to the fullest extent. Brain tumors can cause brain haemorrhages as well.
Bleeding in the brain can cause a variety of symptoms. Some common symptoms include having the sudden onset of a very severe headache, double vision, nausea, vomiting, seizures or weakness in your arms or legs, usually involving just one side of the body. Speech can be garbled or muffled, swallowing can be difficult and there can be tingling or numbness of body parts. Lethargy, fatigue and decrease in alertness are possible symptoms of a brain haemorrhage. You can have a loss of balance, a loss of coordination, a loss of consciousness or a loss of ability to read or write properly. The symptoms of your brain haemorrhage can vary with the location and size of the haemorrhage. A brain haemorrhage is a serious condition and, should you get any of these symptoms, call 999. Bear in mind that other conditions can mimic a brain haemorrhage but these symptoms are important to pay attention to.
The doctor will likely do a CT scan of the head to see if you have a brain haemorrhage and how big the hemorrhage is. The part of the brain affected will be noted and will determine what your symptoms are. The doctor will also do a neurological exam to see what body parts are affected and to what extent. Sometimes a spinal tap or blood tests are needed. The blood tests see if the clotting is normal in the body.
The treatment of a brain haemorrhage depends on where it is and how big it is. Sometimes surgery is used to evacuate hematomas and to stop the bleeding. The blood pressure is kept low so as to reduce the amount of bleeding that is occurring. Clotting factors are given or fresh frozen plasma if the blood clotting is not optimal. Supportive treatment is needed in some cases where the person has problems eating or swallowing. Corticosteroids are given to reduce the swelling on the brain and diuretics are used to increase urinary output and decrease the amount of fluid in the body. Medications to control seizures are given, even if a seizure has yet to happen.