Tina Bregant

Perinatal Hypoxic-ischaemic Encephalopathy - Twenty Years After Tina Bregant

Perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a result of a lack of oxygen in late pregnancy or during birth, with consequent damage to the tissue of the foetus or neonate, including the central nervous system. It is an important cause of brain injury in the newborn. It can result in long-term consequences reaching from mild behavioural problems to severe; seizures, intellectual disability, and/or cerebral palsy. In the book we present neonatal patients with HIE who have been followed into their late adolescence in order to evaluate the very long term outcome by measuring the quality of life and determining the impact of HIE on adult, nearly fully-developed brain structures twenty years after the insult. Apart from the scientific knowledge, the book carries a message to medical professionals, anyone involved in social and health care or working with people with neurological conditions and disorders, or interested in neurodisability, neuroscience, and brain injury. In the book we learn from the families who have children with HIE, what problems they face and how they cope. Despite the difficulties, they cherish and enjoy the life they have.