Multiple general anesthetics in children can increase developmental risks

Specialties CRNA

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Multiple Exposures to Anesthesia May Increase Risk of ADHD, Learning Disabilities in Young Children

Infants and very young children who are exposed to anesthesia may experience greater rates of learning disabilities and cognitive challenges than children who are not, according to research and emerging data presented during the SmartTots: Pediatric Anesthesia Neurotoxicity panel at the recent meeting of the International Anesthesia Research Society in Vancouver, B.C. Studies in nonhuman primates have raised serious worries about the impacts of anesthesia on the developing nonhuman primate brain. Dr. Merle Paule of the National Center for Toxicological Research in his recent findings discovered that a single 24-hour episode of ketamine anesthesia results in very long-lasting deficits in brain function in nonhuman primates. According to him, the results provide proof-of-concept that general anesthesia during key periods of brain development can cause subsequent functional deficits.

From "Multiple Exposures to Anesthesia May Increase Risk of ADHD, Learning Disabilities in Young Children"

News-Medical (05/30/11)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Don't you think though that its important to factor in the "why" of these surgeries: these are usually very compromised kids to begin with.

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Specializes in PACU, OR.

The only anaesthetic agent mentioned is Ketamine; is there any data on similar findings with other agents?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
The only anaesthetic agent mentioned is Ketamine; is there any data on similar findings with other agents?

There are retrospective studies out that show multiple anesthetics can cause developmental harm in children.

This study isn't actually that applicable to us because ketamine is rarely used, if ever, as the sole general anesthetic, it is structurally related PCP, and it was given for 24hrs straight which also would be extremely rare. Patient's usually don't have back to back surgeries/anesthetics so the body/mind has time to recover.

Anybody that gets general anesthetic doses of ketamine for 24hrs straight is going to have cognitive problems for awhile.

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