Researchers studied 997 people born from 1994 through 2007 in Olmsted County, Minn. Researchers grouped them into three cohorts: 206 patients that were exposed to anesthesia at least twice before the age of 3, 380 patients that were exposed once and 411 that were not exposed. ENT procedures were the most common among all patients.
Researchers used the Rochester Epidemiology Project to assess behavior and brain function. They found intelligence, memory and several other measures of brain function were similar between the cohorts.
However, if children under 3 were exposed to anesthesia multiple times their scores were modestly lower on tests measuring fine motor skills, and their parents were more likely to report behavioral and learning problems.
Mayo Clinic pediatric anesthesiologist David Warner, MD, said, “For the majority of kids undergoing surgery, the results overall are reassuring. About 80 percent of kids who need surgery under age 3 only need one, and it’s relatively brief. Although we do have some concerns about the children who are receiving multiple anesthetics, it’s important to note that our results don’t allow us to conclude that anesthesia itself is causing problems.”
Dr. Warner added the fact there were some concerns found means the topic must be studied more. But, he said, the benefits of surgery far outweigh any risks associated with anesthesia.
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