Abstract
Millions of newborn and infants receive anesthetic, sedative and analgesic drugs for surgery and painful procedures on a daily basis. However, recent laboratory reports clearly demonstrate that anesthetic and sedative drugs induced both neuroapoptosis and neurocognitive deficits in laboratory models. This issue is of paramount interest to pediatric anesthesiologists and intensivists because it questions the safety of anesthetics used for fetal and neonatal anesthesia. Most clinically utilized anesthetic drugs have been found to induce neuronal cell death in the developing brain and to potentially cause long-term neurological impairment. Conversely, painful stimuli without analgesia and anesthesia have been implicated in triggering neuro-apoptosis in juvenile mammalian models. Published retrospective reviews demonstrate temporary neurological sequelae after prolonged anesthetic exposure in young children and larger studies identify long-term neurodevelopmental impairment after neonatal surgery and anesthesia. This paper examines the evidence for the effects of commonly used anesthetics on neuronal structure and neurocognitive function in laboratory models and reviews the relevant clinical human epidemiologic data.
Keywords: Anesthesia, neonate, neuroapoptosis, neurocognition, neurotoxicity, sedative, neuronal cell death, neurodevelopmental impairment, infants, analgesic drugs
Current Drug Targets
Title:General Anesthetics in Pediatric Anesthesia: Influences on the Developing Brain
Volume: 13 Issue: 7
Author(s): Mary Ellen McCann and Sulpicio G. Soriano
Affiliation:
Keywords: Anesthesia, neonate, neuroapoptosis, neurocognition, neurotoxicity, sedative, neuronal cell death, neurodevelopmental impairment, infants, analgesic drugs
Abstract: Millions of newborn and infants receive anesthetic, sedative and analgesic drugs for surgery and painful procedures on a daily basis. However, recent laboratory reports clearly demonstrate that anesthetic and sedative drugs induced both neuroapoptosis and neurocognitive deficits in laboratory models. This issue is of paramount interest to pediatric anesthesiologists and intensivists because it questions the safety of anesthetics used for fetal and neonatal anesthesia. Most clinically utilized anesthetic drugs have been found to induce neuronal cell death in the developing brain and to potentially cause long-term neurological impairment. Conversely, painful stimuli without analgesia and anesthesia have been implicated in triggering neuro-apoptosis in juvenile mammalian models. Published retrospective reviews demonstrate temporary neurological sequelae after prolonged anesthetic exposure in young children and larger studies identify long-term neurodevelopmental impairment after neonatal surgery and anesthesia. This paper examines the evidence for the effects of commonly used anesthetics on neuronal structure and neurocognitive function in laboratory models and reviews the relevant clinical human epidemiologic data.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Ellen McCann Mary and G. Soriano Sulpicio, General Anesthetics in Pediatric Anesthesia: Influences on the Developing Brain, Current Drug Targets 2012; 13 (7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945012800675768
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945012800675768 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New drug therapy for eye diseases
Eyesight is one of the most critical senses, accounting for over 80% of our perceptions. Our quality of life might be significantly affected by eye disease, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, etc. Although the development of microinvasive ocular surgery reduces surgical complications and improves overall outcomes, medication therapy is ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Perinatal Heart Programming: Long-term Consequences
Current Medicinal Chemistry Neonatology in the United States: Where we are, and where we are Going
Current Pediatric Reviews Atrial Tachycardias Occurring Late After Open Heart Surgery
Current Cardiology Reviews Adrenomedullin Function in Vascular Endothelial Cells: Insights from Genetic Mouse Models
Current Hypertension Reviews Congenital Malformations Attributed to Prenatal Exposure to Cyclophosphamide
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Stem Cells as In Vitro Models of Disease
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Advances in the Molecular Genetics of Non-syndromic Syndactyly
Current Genomics Intrauterine Effects of Impaired Lipid Homeostasis in Pregnancy Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry Coarctation of the Aorta - An Evolution of Therapeutic Options
Current Cardiology Reviews Neurocognitive Monitoring and Care During Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Bypass — Current and Future Directions
Current Cardiology Reviews Perinatal Management of Fetal Tumors
Current Pediatric Reviews Indications for Heart Transplantation in Congenital Heart Disease
Current Cardiology Reviews Critical Congenital Heart Disease in Neonates: A Review Article
Current Pediatric Reviews Genes Involved in Hereditary Hearing Impairment
Current Genomics Clinical Presentations and Diagnosis of Brucellosis
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery Structural Chromosome Abnormalities Associated with Obesity: Report of Four New Subjects and Review of Literature
Current Genomics Pulmonary Circulation and Pulmonary Function in Neonatal Lung Hypoplasia:Treatment with Corticosteroids
Current Pediatric Reviews Heart Transplantation for Congenital Heart Disease in the First Year of Life
Current Cardiology Reviews Impact of Pulmonary Vascular Resistances in Heart Transplantation for Congenital Heart Disease
Current Cardiology Reviews Congenital Heart Disease: The Crossroads of Genetics, Epigenetics and Environment
Current Genomics