Anesthesia and the Developing Brain: A Way forward for Clinical Research
1Anaesthesia and Pain Management Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
2Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
3Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Andrew G, Davidson, Nicola Disma, “Anesthesia and the Developing Brain: A Way forward for Clinical
Research”, American Research Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 1, no. 1, 2022, pp. 27-31.
Abstract
Several general anesthetic effects on the developing brain in animal models have already been documented. Contrary to
the results of human cohort studies, there is no clear evidence of a link between early children anesthetic exposure and
neurobehavioral outcomes. Despite extensive study, it is still unclear whether or not the findings from animal studies have
any use in human medicine, or even whether any changes to clinical practice are necessary. In light of the large number of
children who have general anesthesia procedures, the answers to these concerns are crucial. Researchers and physicians
met recently in Genoa to discuss the future of clinical trials. These debates and their outcomes are described in this work.
Observational studies with a high sample size, as well as clinical trials with precise design parameters, were deemed
essential. There is no way to completely rule out the possibility that anesthetics can cause long-term neurobehavioural
changes in humans; however, observational studies will help us better understand which children are most at risk and
may also reveal possible underlying causes, and clinical trials will provide the strongest evidence to test the efficacy of
different strategies or anesthetises.
