How to Say It: An-OKS-ik
Anoxic brain damage (ABD) is harm to the brain due to a lack of oxygen. Brain cells without enough oxygen will start to die after about 4 minutes.
Progression of Anoxic Brain DamageCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Oxygen is carried to the brain in the blood. ABD is when:
Problems that may raise the risk of ABD are:
Problems may be:
You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. You may need to see a doctor who treats brain problems.
These tests may be done to find out more about problems with brain function:
Treatment will depend on the cause. Choices are:
Recovery can take months or years. It depends on how long a person went without oxygen. Many people can get back most of the abilities they lost.
These therapies may be needed:
Brain Injury Association of America
http://www.biausa.org
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
http://www.ninds.nih.gov
Ontario Brain Injury Association
http://obia.ca
Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
Cerebral hypoxia information page. National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Cerebral-Hypoxia-Information-Page. Accessed June 18, 2018.
Rubinos C, Ruland S. Neurologic complications in the intensive care unit. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2016;16(6):57.
Last reviewed September 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Rimas Lukas, MD
Last Updated: 5/21/2021