lack of oxygen to the brain

[brenda601]

what happens when the brain goes almost 20 minutes without oxygen. but the patient is moving only her right side, and she answer to all commands and opens eyes a little and her left side is not responding like the right?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Well, it may or may not have. Loss of oxygen to brain may not have been there with the baby turning blue. It could be just decreased blood supply. This may cause memory problems later on. In case there are infarcts, then these may cause symptoms. In case there are symptoms, a MRI of brain or EEG should be done. If there are no symptoms then you should not worry. Hope this helps. Take care!

[gigi99]

what if an infant is deprived oxygen 5 min.s (until found napping - turning blue but then ok..) could it have far reachung effects 20 yr s later?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
This is a very complex thing to answer without examining the patient. 20 minutes a huge time for brain not to receive oxygen, and ideally will cause permanent brain death. So if the patient was responding to commands then probably it was not a case of no oxygen. It was probably a case of stroke with left side paralysis. This may recover fully or partially depending on the nature and site of clot or bleed in the brain. Please consult a neurologist (you may have by now).
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!