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Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity AIDN: A Translational Neuroscience Approach
Published on: June 11, 2017
Engaging stakeholders in research related to anesthesia and neurodevelopment in children
Susan Lei1, Nicholas Davis, Melissa Lee
1Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Medical Center, Division of Pediatric Anesthesia, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY.
Insights
Emerging evidence suggests anesthetic and sedative drugs may affect child neurodevelopment. Improved communication and stakeholder collaboration are crucial for advancing research and ensuring anesthetic safety in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Anesthesia
- Neurodevelopmental Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Emerging animal model data suggest potential neurotoxic and neurodevelopmental effects of early anesthetic/sedative exposure.
- Human studies on anesthetic neurotoxicity in children remain limited and inconclusive, hindering definitive clinical recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss strategies for engaging stakeholders in patient-centered outcomes research on anesthetic neurotoxicity in children.
- To explore effective community engagement and federal collaboration for public health initiatives related to pediatric anesthesia.
Main Methods:
- The Fourth PANDA symposium convened leaders in community engagement and federal collaboration.
- Discussions focused on overcoming challenges in promoting public health issues related to pediatric anesthesia.
- Explored a "top-down, bottom-up" engagement strategy involving diverse stakeholders.
Main Results:
- Highlighted the need for open communication among clinicians, parents, and stakeholders.
- Emphasized clinician and researcher partnerships with stakeholders as coinvestigators.
- Identified potential for enhanced resource utilization through collaboration with government regulatory administration.
Conclusions:
- A collaborative, stakeholder-engaged approach is essential for advancing research on anesthetic neurotoxicity in children.
- Effective public health strategies require partnerships between researchers, clinicians, parents, and government agencies.
- Further patient-centered outcomes research is needed to improve the safety and quality of pediatric anesthesia care.
Abstract:
The Fourth PANDA symposium on Anesthesia and Neurodevelopment in Children invited 4 leaders in community engagement and federal government collaboration to share their experiences with overcoming challenges in promoting public health issues. There continues to be emerging evidence from laboratory findings in animal models demonstrating neurotoxic effects and neurodevelopmental changes from early exposure to anesthetic and sedative drugs, but studies in humans have been very limited and inconclusive. Although definitive recommendations for clinical care still cannot be made given the limitations in the clinical data, the need for open communication among clinicians, parents, and other stakeholders is clear. A "top-down, bottom-up" engagement strategy including parents, children, clinicians, government agencies, and community organizations may improve communication and collaboration. To reach the goal of "improving quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care in children," clinicians and researchers will need to adopt strategies to engage and partner with stakeholders as coinvestigators who actively participate in efforts to increase anesthetic safety in children. Collaborations with government regulatory administration can improve the efficacy and effectiveness of resource utilization to address public health needs. This session provided an opportunity for open dialog between clinicians, researchers, and community leaders to discuss strategies to engage stakeholders to partake in patient-centered outcomes research on anesthetic neurotoxicity.
