A new study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine has found that multiple doses of general anesthesia do not harm brain function in young children, providing reassurance to parents and healthcare providers (via Medical Xpress).
The study, led by Professor Claire Wainwright from the University of Queensland's Child Health Research Center, involved a trial with children who have cystic fibrosis in Australia and New Zealand.
The trial examined the long-term effects of repeated general anesthesia on brain development and cognitive function.
New study finds no harm to brain function in young children with multiple doses of general anesthesia.Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash
The Study: Important Findings
The study observed children from around 3.6 months old to 12.8 years old, using data from an earlier trial. Participants were divided into two groups: one received frequent treatments under general anesthesia, and the other received standard care without planned anesthesia treatments until age five.
Children in the frequent anesthesia group experienced significantly more exposure to anesthesia compared to those in the standard care group. By age two, the frequent anesthesia group had a median of two exposures, while the standard care group had none.
This disparity increased over time, with the frequent anesthesia group having a median of six exposures by age five compared to two in the standard care group. By age 12.8, this gap widened further, with the frequent anesthesia group experiencing a median of ten exposures versus four in the standard care group.
Additionally, the total time spent under anesthesia was considerably higher in the frequent anesthesia group, with a median of 180 minutes compared to 48 minutes for the standard care group.
Assessments conducted included neurobehavioral tests, intelligence tests, and MRI scans of the brain. The primary outcome measured was performance on a computerized test of attention and cognitive skills.
The study found no statistically significant differences between the two groups, with the frequent anesthesia group scoring an average of 51, compared to 53 in the standard care group.
Professor Andrew Davidson from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, who was also involved in the study, said: "Multiple general anesthesia exposures in these young children did not cause functional impairment in attention, IQ, executive function, or brain structure compared to the group with fewer anesthetics."
Does Anesthesia Impact Children's Brain Development?
This study addresses long-standing concerns about the potential impact of anesthesia on young brains, especially in children who require multiple surgeries or procedures. Previous animal studies have suggested potential risks, leading to uncertainty and anxiety among parents and healthcare providers.
Wainwright emphasized that animal studies do not always predict human outcomes: "Animal studies showed potential learning and behavior changes, but children with poorer outcomes may have these due to reasons linked to the disease or procedure requiring the anesthetic."
While the findings are reassuring, it is still essential for parents to discuss any concerns with their child's healthcare provider, especially if the child requires multiple or prolonged anesthesia sessions. KidsHealth advises that for children under three, parents should ask their surgeon about the risks related to brain development, the possibility of postponing surgery, and the duration and number of required surgeries.
