Overventilation in the NICU

Baltimore Birth Injury Attorneys Advocating for Infants Harmed by Overventilation in the NICU

Infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) often require mechanical ventilation due to underdeveloped lungs, complications of prematurity, or birth-related trauma. While these interventions are sometimes life-saving, they must be administered with precision and care. Overventilation in the NICU, which occurs when an infant receives too much oxygen or excessive ventilation pressure, can cause lasting and catastrophic harm. In many instances, a healthcare provider’s failure to monitor and adjust ventilator settings properly, resulting in injuries, constitutes grounds for a birth injury claim. If your child has been diagnosed with a serious condition that may be linked to overventilation, you may be able to recover damages, and it is in your best interest to talk to an attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, our experienced Baltimore birth injury attorneys are dedicated to representing families whose children have suffered preventable harm due to negligent neonatal care, and if you hire us, we will advocate aggressively on your behalf.

The Harm Caused by Overventilation in the NICU

Overventilation in the NICU is a well-documented risk associated with mechanical respiratory support, particularly in premature or low birth weight infants. Excessive oxygenation or pressure can damage fragile lung tissue and impair the normal development of the brain and other organs. One of the most devastating consequences of overventilation is periventricular leukomalacia, a type of white matter brain injury strongly associated with cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental delays. Infants exposed to prolonged or improperly regulated ventilation may also suffer from bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, or intraventricular hemorrhage. These injuries are often permanent and may require a lifetime of medical care, therapy, and support.

The harm caused by overventilation is particularly tragic because it is preventable with appropriate monitoring and adherence to established standards of neonatal care. Physicians and NICU staff must vigilantly monitor blood gases, adjust ventilator settings in real time, and ensure that oxygen levels remain within safe ranges. When providers fail to do so, and an infant suffers injury as a result, the law may recognize that failure as a breach of their professional duties. For many families, these injuries not only alter the course of a child’s life but also impose overwhelming emotional and financial burdens.

Proving Liability for Overventilation in a Maryland Birth Injury Case

Parents whose children have been injured due to overventilation in the NICU may pursue a birth injury claim under Maryland law. These claims are grounded in the legal theory of negligence, and the plaintiff must prove that the healthcare provider owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused the injury, resulting in damages. In NICU cases, the duty of care includes the obligation to provide care consistent with the standards practiced by competent neonatal specialists.

A breach occurs when a provider fails to take necessary precautions or acts in a way that falls below accepted medical standards, for example, by failing to adjust ventilator settings despite signs of overventilation, or by not responding to abnormal blood gas readings. The plaintiff must then establish causation by showing that this breach directly resulted in the infant’s injury and that the injury would not have occurred but for the provider’s negligence. In Maryland, expert testimony is generally required to explain what the standard of care was, how it was violated, and how that violation caused the harm.

The damages available in birth injury cases involving overventilation in the NICU often reflect the long-term needs of a child living with a serious disability. Economic damages may include the cost of past and future medical treatment, physical and occupational therapy, special education services, mobility aids, in-home nursing care, and lost earning capacity over the course of the child’s life. Non-economic damages include the child’s pain and suffering, loss of life’s pleasures, and the emotional anguish suffered by the family.

Contact a Trusted Baltimore Birth Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Child’s Case

The consequences of overventilation in the NICU can be devastating, not only for the infant who suffers permanent harm but also for the family tasked with providing a lifetime of care. If you suspect that negligent neonatal care caused your child’s injuries, you deserve answers, and you should contact an attorney regarding your rights. At Arfaa Law Group, our trusted Baltimore birth injury attorneys are committed to helping families hold negligent providers accountable and secure the resources their children need, and if you engage our services, we will help you seek the justice you deserve. Our office is located in Baltimore, and we represent families throughout the city and surrounding areas. To discuss your potential case with an attorney, please call us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online to arrange a complimentary consultation.