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Comorbidity and Procedural Factors Associated With Auditory Brainstem Response Outcomes in Children Under Anesthesia
Christina Zhu1, Henna Tiwary2, Ashwini M Tilak3
1Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA.
Cureus
|February 17, 2026
Summary
Patient comorbidities, especially cardiac and respiratory conditions, significantly impact pediatric auditory brainstem response (ABR) hearing outcomes. Anesthesia type did not show a significant effect on ABR thresholds.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Neuroscience
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing is crucial for pediatric hearing assessment.
- Factors influencing ABR outcomes in children require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of comorbidities and procedural context on pediatric ABR results.
- To determine if anesthesia type (propofol vs. sevoflurane) affects hearing thresholds.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 403 pediatric patients undergoing sedated ABR.
- Analysis of demographic, anesthetic, and clinical variables, including comorbidities.
- Logistic regression to examine associations with hearing loss, adjusting for ASA classification.
Main Results:
- Cardiac and respiratory comorbidities were associated with a higher likelihood of hearing loss.
- Combined procedures showed a higher likelihood of normal hearing compared to standalone ABR.
- Anesthesia type was not significantly associated with ABR thresholds after adjusting for ASA class.
Conclusions:
- Comorbidities and procedural context are key predictors of pediatric ABR outcomes.
- Anesthetic choice may not independently influence ABR thresholds.
- Patient health status and procedural setting are critical for interpreting pediatric ABR results.
Keywords:
auditory brainstem responsesmedical comorbiditiespediatric anesthesiapediatric hearing losssevoflurane vs propofolMore Related Videos
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