Surgical anesthesia in young children linked to effects on IQ, brain structure

[UglyGreed]

Children's Hospital Medical Center

Children who received general anesthesia for surgery before age 4 had diminished language comprehension, lower IQ and decreased gray matter density in posterior regions of their brain, according to a new study. The authors of the study recommend additional studies to determine anesthesia's precise molecular effects on the brain and contribution to diminished brain function and composition.

Researchers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center report their findings in the journal's June 8 online edition. The authors recommend additional studies to determine anesthesia's precise molecular effects on the brain and contribution to diminished brain function and composition. Researchers say this knowledge could make it possible to develop mitigating strategies for what the authors describe as a potential dilemma for child health.

"The ultimate goal of our laboratory and clinical research is to improve safety and outcomes in young children who have no choice but to undergo surgery with anesthesia to treat their serious health concerns," said Andreas Loepke, MD, PhD, FAAP, lead study author and an anesthesiologist in the Department of Anesthesiology at Cincinnati Children's. "We also have to better understand to what extent anesthetics and other factors contribute to learning abnormalities in children before making drastic changes to our current practice, which by all measures has become very safe."

Loepke and his research colleagues have published previous studies showing widespread cell death, permanent deletion of neurons and neurocognitive impairment in laboratory rats and mice after exposure to general anesthesia. Those studies have raised concerns about similar effects in young children during a particularly sensitive neurodevelopmental period in early life, which researchers say could interfere with the refinement of neuronal networks and lead to long-term functional abnormalities.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150608083103.htm

[UglyGreed]

1. My son had to go under

because of a botched circumcision and suffers from these types problems.

[Avalux]

2. Interesting, but a retrospective study with a sample size of 106 isn't difinitive.

It's difficult to make statistical heads or tails out of the data.

On a personal note, two of my daughters had general anesthesia before the age of three, one for eye surgery and the other for tube insertion of the ears. Neither of them are impaired in any way.

I wouldn't put much stock in these results until well-controlled prospective studies with a large enough sample size are performed.

[UglyGreed]

3. Well I noticed

a difference with my son after the surgery but you would know better than I since your children made through such surgeries just fine.

[Avalux]

5. Let me try to clarify, I may not have said that very well.

Not all children are affected, your son has been and I'm very sorry to hear that.

Sometimes people read an article like this an jump to the conclusion that it's true across the board, and may put off a major surgery because they're afraid it will happen to their child. A retrospective clinical trial raises the possibility, but it isn't proof.

If there is a solid correlation we absolutely need that proof - precisely because not every child will end up affected. We need numbers that can't be criticized. If the numbers show higher risk than benefit, it will be easier to push for an alternative to anesthesia and convince the decision makers.

[UglyGreed]

6. I'm sorry

I've been under fire as of late and I felt it was another shot over my bow.

[Avalux]

7. No worries!

This is personal for you and I understand completely. Love and light to you and your son.

[UglyGreed]

4. Oh let me add

that my son was a year old when he was put under. The doctors wanted to do it earlier but we held out as long as we could.