Does Anesthesia Before Age 4 Years Impair Cognition Later in Childhood?

Academic performance and IQ in adolescents were minimally affected by exposure to anesthesia before age 4 years.

Data from experimental studies in animals and some observational studies in humans suggest a potential neurotoxic effect of general anesthesia in very young children. In a highly powered study of Swedish health data, researchers examined academic performance (school grades) at 16 years and intelligence quotient (IQ) test results in military inductees aged 18 years who had one exposure to anesthesia at <4 years of age and no other hospitalizations until age 16 (33,514 participants). Children undergoing surgeries that might have potentially affected these cognitive outcomes were excluded. Results were compared with a cohort of five matched children for each study participant (159,619 participants).

School grades were 0.4% lower in children who…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

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Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Does Anesthesia Before Age 4 Years Impair Cognition Later in Childhood?

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Reviewing Author