Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 10, 2025

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

9.7K

Does Exposure to General Anesthesia Increase Risk of ADHD for Children Before Age of Three?

Junjie Song1, Huifang Li1, Ying Wang2

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University, Kaifeng, China.

Frontiers in Psychiatry
|December 13, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Multiple exposures to general anesthesia before age 3 may increase attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) risk. Single exposures, however, showed no significant association with ADHD diagnosis in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Early childhood exposure to general anesthesia is a growing concern.
  • Understanding its long-term neurodevelopmental effects is crucial for clinical practice.

Approach:

  • A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted using data from major biomedical databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library).
  • Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 to evaluate the association between anesthesia exposure frequency and ADHD risk.

Key Points:

  • Multiple exposures to general anesthesia before age 3 were associated with an increased risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • A single exposure to general anesthesia in early childhood did not demonstrate a statistically significant increased risk of ADHD.
  • The findings highlight a potential dose-response relationship between anesthesia exposure and ADHD risk.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple, but not single, exposures to general anesthesia in children under the age of 3 are linked to a higher risk of ADHD diagnosis.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this association and inform clinical guidelines.

Keywords:
ADHDchildrengeneral anesthesiameta-analysismultiplesingle

More Related Videos

Anesthesia and Intubation of Preadolescent Mouse Pups for Cardiothoracic Surgery09:47

Anesthesia and Intubation of Preadolescent Mouse Pups for Cardiothoracic Surgery

Published on: June 2, 2022

2.5K
Event Related Potentials ERPs and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD10:02

Event Related Potentials ERPs and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD

Published on: March 12, 2020

16.0K

Related Concept Videos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
422
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...
322
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.
324
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...
914
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...
570
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
18