Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Adaptation of Microelectrode Array Technology for the Study of Anesthesia-induced Neurotoxicity in the Intact Piglet Brain
08:23

Adaptation of Microelectrode Array Technology for the Study of Anesthesia-induced Neurotoxicity in the Intact Piglet Brain

Published on: May 12, 2018

Impact of anaesthetics and surgery on neurodevelopment: an update

R D Sanders1, J Hassell, A J Davidson

  • 1Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK. r.sanders@ucl.ac.uk

British Journal of Anaesthesia
|April 2, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal exposure to general anesthetics may cause neurotoxicity. Preclinical studies show brain cell death, but clinical evidence remains inconclusive, necessitating further research.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Anesthesiology
  • Developmental Toxicology

Background:

  • Growing evidence suggests potential neurotoxicity from neonatal exposure to general anesthetics.
  • This review synthesizes preclinical and clinical data on anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity in neonates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence for neurotoxicity following neonatal exposure to general anesthetics.
  • To discuss potential mechanisms of injury and protective strategies.
  • To evaluate the current state of research, highlighting limitations and future directions.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of preclinical (rodent, primate) and clinical studies.
  • Analysis of studies investigating apoptosis and cognitive outcomes.
  • Evaluation of retrospective clinical data and ongoing prospective trials.

Main Results:

  • Preclinical studies consistently show anesthetic-induced apoptosis in the nervous system.
  • Primate studies indicate vulnerability of the developing brain to anesthetic-induced apoptosis.
  • Clinical data are largely inconclusive due to confounding variables in retrospective analyses.

Conclusions:

  • While preclinical data strongly suggest neurotoxic potential, clinical evidence is limited and inconclusive.
  • Further prospective studies, like the GAS and PANDA trials, are crucial to clarify risks.
  • The impact of surgery on anesthetic-induced brain injury requires further investigation.

Keywords:
brain, anaesthesia, molecular effectsnerve, damage (postoperative)nerve, neurotransmittersnerve, regeneration

Related Concept Videos

General Anesthesia: Overview01:24

General Anesthesia: Overview

Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
Stages of General Anesthesia01:22

Stages of General Anesthesia

Various sedation levels offer significant advantages in facilitating procedural interventions for patients undergoing medical or invasive surgical procedures. These levels span from anxiolysis to general anesthesia, providing a spectrum of sedative effects to cater to specific patient needs. Anxiolysis reduces anxiety and is achieved through minimal sedation, enabling patients to remain awake and responsive while feeling more at ease during the procedure. This level can benefit minor...
Psychosurgery01:30

Psychosurgery

Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects01:12

Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects

While local anesthetics are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can occasionally cause adverse effects that vary in severity. Local anesthetics can induce toxicity at two distinct levels. They can either produce local effects through direct contact with the neural elements or be absorbed into the bloodstream from the injection site, leading to systemic effects.
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...