Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity (AIDN): A Translational Neuroscience Approach
06:38

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

Published on: June 11, 2017

Paediatric anaesthesia and the developing brain

Jean-Philippe Salaün1, Peter Frykholm2, Nicolas Poirel3

  • 1Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Caen Normandie, Caen, France; Normandie Université, UNICAEN, Université Caen Normandie, INSERM, GIP CYCERON; Brain, Blood and Memory @ Caen Normandie Institute, UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders (PhIND), Caen, France.

The Lancet. Child & Adolescent Health
|July 31, 2026
PubMed

Insights

General anesthesia in children may affect brain development. While single exposures show no cognitive harm, some studies link early anesthesia to attention issues and visual processing changes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
  • Child Brain Development

Background:

  • Persistent concerns exist regarding general anesthesia's long-term impact on pediatric brain development.
  • Recent evidence (2019-2025) is reviewed to update consensus messages on this topic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize recent preclinical and clinical evidence on general anesthesia's effects on children's brain development.
  • To provide updated consensus messages for clinicians and families.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative review of preclinical studies and clinical evidence, including randomized trials and observational studies.
  • Analysis of data from 2019 to 2025, focusing on neurodevelopmental outcomes, cognitive function, and visual processing.

Main Results:

  • Preclinical studies indicate anesthetic agents can disrupt neurodevelopment in vulnerable periods.
  • Clinical evidence is mixed: single, short exposures show no cognitive impairment, but observational studies suggest a small increased risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with early exposure.
  • Preliminary findings suggest potential modifications in visual development and processing.

Conclusions:

  • While single, short anesthetic exposures in infancy may not cause measurable cognitive deficits, a potential link to ADHD exists.
  • Confounding factors like surgery and comorbidity limit interpretation; communication should address parental concerns while reassuring that necessary procedures shouldn't be delayed.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the nuanced effects of general anesthesia on pediatric neurodevelopment.

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