Major Surgery Worsens Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Very Premature Neonates

Major surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia are associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very premature babies.

Anesthesia is not benign to the neonatal brain, and recent studies have raised the concern that early childhood exposure has adverse effects on neurodevelopment. This study used the large Neonatal Research Network database (1998–2009) of very-low-birth-weight infants (<1500 grams) to determine whether surgery and anesthesia were independent risk factors for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 to 22 months' corrected age among 12,111 preterm infants.

A total of 2186 infants underwent major surgery, 784 minor surgery or procedures, and 9141 no surgery. The risk-adjusted odds ratio for death or neurodevelopmental impairment for all surgery patients, compared with those who had no surgery, was 1.29; the odds ratio after major surgery was 1…

Reviewing Author

Robin Steinhorn, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardActelion Pharmaceuticals

Editorial BoardsJournal of Pediatrics

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Pediatric Society (President); American Board of Pediatrics (Board of Directors)

Robin Steinhorn, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardActelion Pharmaceuticals

Editorial BoardsJournal of Pediatrics

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Pediatric Society (President); American Board of Pediatrics (Board of Directors)

Major Surgery Worsens Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Very Premature Neonates

Topics

Reviewing Author