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First anesthesia exposure effects on short-term neurocognitive function among 1- to 36-month-old children: a

Pichaya Waitayawinyu1, Taniga Kiatchai1, Tanapop Kiatpanomphae1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Translational Pediatrics
|August 14, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Short-term anesthesia exposure in young children did not lead to a significant decline in cognitive function. However, a small percentage of children showed a decrease in cognitive scores after anesthesia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Limited data exists on short-term neurodevelopmental effects of anesthesia in early childhood.
  • Previous studies show no significant long-term anesthesia impact compared to the general population.
  • This study focuses on short-term cognitive function changes post-anesthesia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate short-term neurocognitive function after anesthesia in children undergoing noncardiac surgery.
  • To compare post-anesthesia cognitive function with baseline assessments.
  • To identify potential short-term cognitive changes in infants and toddlers exposed to anesthesia.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective case-control pilot study involving healthy and hospitalized children aged 1-36 months.
  • Neurocognitive function assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition, at baseline and seven days post-anesthesia.
  • Control group received only a baseline assessment; anesthesia group assessed before and after surgery.

Main Results:

  • The anesthesia group had significantly lower baseline cognitive scores than the control group (111.50 vs. 97.13).
  • Post-anesthesia cognitive scores in the anesthesia group were statistically higher than baseline (97.05 vs. 101.28), but not clinically significant.
  • 17.9% of participants in the anesthesia group experienced a decrease in cognitive composite scores post-anesthesia.

Conclusions:

  • Children receiving anesthesia had lower baseline cognitive function compared to controls.
  • No overall significant decrease in cognitive scores was observed immediately after anesthesia.
  • A notable percentage of children (17.9%) showed a decline in cognitive scores following anesthetic exposure.
Abstract

Keywords:
General anesthesiachild developmentdevelopmental disabilities

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