Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 13, 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

9.9K

Current thinking regarding potential neurotoxicity of general anesthesia in infants

Mary Ellen McCann1, Jurgen de Graaff

  • 1aDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA bDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Current Opinion in Urology
|October 19, 2016
PubMed

Insights

General anesthetics may impact young brain development, but a recent study found no neurocognitive differences in 2-year-olds exposed to general anesthesia versus regional anesthesia.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Anesthesiology

Background:

  • Preclinical studies indicate general anesthetics can negatively affect young brain development, showing dose-dependent effects and cellular changes linked to adult behavioral deficits.
  • Existing clinical research on early childhood anesthesia's long-term effects is largely retrospective and yields conflicting results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the influence of general anesthesia versus regional anesthesia on neurocognitive functioning in young infants.
  • To evaluate potential adverse effects of anesthesia on developing brains in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Interim analysis of a prospective randomized clinical trial (GAS-study).
  • Comparison of neurocognitive outcomes at age 2 years between infants receiving general anesthesia and those receiving regional anesthesia.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in neurocognitive functioning were observed at age 2 years between the general anesthesia and regional anesthesia groups.
  • The study is ongoing, with primary outcome analysis at 5 years not yet complete.

Conclusions:

  • Current interim findings suggest no immediate adverse neurocognitive effects at age 2 from general anesthesia compared to regional anesthesia in young infants.
  • Anesthesiologists should continue to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of anesthesia for procedures in young children, discussing options with caregivers.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity AIDN: A Translational Neuroscience Approach06:38

Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity AIDN: A Translational Neuroscience Approach

Published on: June 11, 2017

11.8K
Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention08:49

Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention

Published on: October 16, 2013

14.6K

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...
925
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.
861
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...
2.1K
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...
921
Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview01:20

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview

Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...
1.4K
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...
913