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. 2022 Apr;50(2):121-128.
doi: 10.5152/TJAR.2022.21602.

Anaesthesia-Related Pediatric Neurotoxicity: A Survey Study

Munise Yıldız  1 , Betül Kozanhan  1 , Eyüp Aydoğan  2 , Yasin Tire  1 , Tamer Sekmenli  3
Affiliations

Anaesthesia-Related Pediatric Neurotoxicity: A Survey Study

Munise Yıldız et al. Turk J Anaesthesiol Reanim. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: Millions of children are exposed to anaesthetic drugs every day; however, the possible adverse effects of these agents on the central nervous system remain controversial. This study evaluated anaesthesiologists' and pediatric surgeons' knowledge and daily practices regarding anaesthesia-induced neurotoxicity.

Methods: A survey consisting of 12 questions was sent to members of the Turkish Anaesthesiology and Reanimation Association and the Turkish Pediatric Surgery Association via the Google forms program.

Results: A total of 202 anaesthesiologists and 51 pediatric surgeons participated in this survey. The results demonstrate that anaesthesiologists and surgeons are aware of the risk of anaesthesia-related neurotoxicity and are willing to take action. Approximately, half of the anaesthesiologists and pediatric surgeons expected to postpone operations lasting at least 3 hours for patients <3 years of age. Also, one-third of the anaesthesiologists would seek feasible and more reliable alternative anaesthetic strategies.

Conclusions: More than two-thirds of the participants knew about the US Food and Drug Administration neurotoxicity warning; however, uncertainty about anaesthesia-related neurotoxicity is ongoing. Many questions remain unanswered. The results of large-scale prospective randomized studies to evaluate the effect of anaesthetics and surgery on the cognitive development of pediatric patients are needed.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The relationship between early exposure to general anaesthetics and negative neurocognitive effects in children.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The knowledge of participants regarding groups of patients with increased risk of anaesthesia-related neurotoxicity. (A) Participants who chose only 1 of the high-risk patient groups. (B) Participants who chose 2 of the high-risk patient groups. (C) Participants who chose 3 of the high-risk patient groups. (D) Participants who chose 4 of the high-risk patient groups. (E) Participants who chose all of the high-risk patient groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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