Anesthetic neurotoxicity.
Concerns for toxic effects of anesthesia to the brains of the young and the elderly are mounting. While experimental evidence for such effects in the developing brain is strong, the underlying mechanisms are less well understood and debate continues as to whether young humans are at risk for anesthetic neurotoxicity. The phenomenon of postoperative cognitive deterioration in the elderly remains controversial. Time course, severity, and whether or not it persists long term are under debate. For both patient groups, today's evidence is not sufficient to guide change in clinical practice. Well-designed research is therefore imperative to tackle this critical issue.
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA. brambrin@ohsu.edu
Ansgar M
AM
Brambrink
Andrea
A
Orfanakis
Jeffrey R
JR
Kirsch
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology
D000777:Anesthetics