A recent study by the Cincinnati Children's Hospital revealed that children who were exposed to anesthesia before the age of 4 tested significantly lower than children who were not exposed.
In a recent blog post, Somnia Anesthesia examines this study and similar findings to determine the best course of action for children needing to undergo surgery before the age of 4.
Citing several articles from HealthDay News, Pediatrics and Medical Daily, the effects of anesthesia on young children can include:
- Impaired development
- Lower gray matter density
- Neuron development disruption
While pediatric surgery is unavoidable in some cases, SmartTots, the nonprofit the FDA and International Anesthesia Research Society formed, issued a statement that surgeries requiring anesthesia and sedative drugs should be delayed due the "potential risk to the developing brains of infants, toddlers and preschool children.