Does General Anesthesia in Neonates Impair Long-Term Neurodevelopment?

A large randomized, controlled trial shows equivalent outcomes 5 years after infants received general anesthesia versus conscious sedation.

Whether general anesthesia in neonates impairs long-term neurodevelopment and cognition remains uncertain.

In an international randomized, controlled trial in 28 neonatal centers, investigators evaluated intelligence and other neurodevelopment measures at age 5 years in 722 infants (mostly boys) who underwent herniorrhaphy during infancy with use of either conscious sedation or sevoflurane general anesthesia.

Participants had been born at >26 weeks' gestational age and were <60 weeks' postmenstrual age at time of surgery (mean postnatal age, 70 days). The median duration of general anesthesia was 54 minutes. The primary outcome was the full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) score of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, t…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

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 General Anesthesia in Neonates Impair Long-Term Neurodevelopment?

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Reviewing Author