Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 9, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

12.0K

Effects of anaesthesia and surgery on sleep-wake timing and subjective sleep quality in children: an observational

Arjen J G Meewisse1, Sharon J Meijer1, Kee Fong Choi1

  • 1Department of Anaesthesiology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Anaesthesia
|August 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Children

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Circadian Biology

Background:

  • Anesthesia and surgery can disrupt the circadian timing system and sleep-wake rhythms.
  • The impact of anesthesia and surgery on children's sleep-wake rhythms is not well understood.
  • Investigating whether anesthesia alone, without surgery, affects sleep-wake cycles is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of anesthesia and surgery on sleep-wake rhythm in children aged 1-11 years.
  • To determine if anesthesia without a surgical procedure impacts children's sleep-wake cycles.
  • To assess changes in sleep quality following anesthesia and surgical procedures.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 117 children (1-11 years) undergoing anesthesia for elective surgery or MRI.
  • Utilized the Children's Chronotype Questionnaire, Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, and daily sleep diaries.
  • Collected data for three days before and seven days after anesthesia to assess sleep-wake rhythm and quality.

Main Results:

  • No significant disruption in the midpoint of sleep was observed on the night after anesthesia compared to baseline.
  • Neither the surgical nor the MRI group showed a significant shift in sleep midpoint post-anesthesia.
  • Subjective sleep quality remained unaffected in children following anesthesia and surgical procedures.

Conclusions:

  • Anesthesia and elective surgery did not appear to disrupt the sleep-wake rhythm in the studied pediatric population.
  • Further research is recommended to explore potential risks associated with more invasive procedures and anesthesia.
  • The findings suggest that current anesthetic and surgical practices may not significantly alter children's sleep-wake patterns.
Abstract

Keywords:
circadian rhythmpaediatric anaesthesiaperi‐operative sleep qualitysleep–wake rhythm

More Related Videos

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling03:46

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling

Published on: October 11, 2018

10.3K
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

13.8K

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...
283
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...
681
Nightmares and Night Terrors01:18

Nightmares and Night Terrors

Nightmares and night terrors represent two distinct types of sleep disturbances that differ in timing, characteristics, and the sleeper's recall of the event. Nightmares are vivid, disturbing dreams that usually awaken the sleeper from REM sleep, a stage of sleep where brain activity is high, and dreams are most frequent. Upon awakening, individuals often have detailed recollections of their nightmares, which can include themes of threats to survival, security, or self-esteem.
Nightmares...
158
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
210
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
216
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
1.6K