General anesthesia and neurotoxicity on the developing brain
Vol. 7 No. 2 (2018), Articles
Vol. 7 No. 2 (2018)

General anesthesia and neurotoxicity on the developing brain

Articles
https://doi.org/10.7363/070222
Published 2018-08-25
Gabriele Finco
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
Paolo Mura
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
Andrea Corona
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
Maurizio Evangelista
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Cattolica University, Rome, Italy
Salvatore Sardo
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
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Keywords

neurotoxicity
anesthesia
brain
propofol
ketamine
sevoflurane

How to Cite

Finco, G., Mura, P., Corona, A., Evangelista, M., & Sardo, S. (2018). General anesthesia and neurotoxicity on the developing brain. Journal of Pediatric and Neonatal Individualized Medicine (JPNIM), 7(2), e070222. https://doi.org/10.7363/070222
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Abstract

With the evolution of surgical techniques and technology an increasing number of infants, neonates, and fetuses are exposed to general anesthesia.
Despite the acknowledged safety of general anesthesia, a considerable amount of preclinical evidence shows that the developing brain is highly vulnerable to anesthetic drugs. Early-age anesthesia may impair the fine tuning of neurotransmitters and growth factors that orchestrate the replication, differentiation and organization of neural cells into functional networks.
In order to translate these insights from animal models to human patients, large trials and observational studies have been published or are currently ongoing.
The aim of this narrative review is to provide an update on the pathophysiologic mechanisms and published evidence of anesthesia-related neurotoxicity in pediatric patients.
https://doi.org/10.7363/070222
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