title: Perioperative central nervous system injury in neonates.
abstract: Anaesthetic-induced developmental neurotoxicity (AIDN) has been clearly established in laboratory animal models. The possibility of neurotoxicity during uneventful anaesthetic procedures in human neonates or infants has led to serious questions about the safety of paediatric anaesthesia. However, the applicability of animal data to clinical anaesthesia practice remains uncertain. The spectre of cerebral injury due to cerebral hypoperfusion, metabolic derangements, coexisting disease, and surgery itself further muddles the picture. Given the potential magnitude of the public health importance of this issue, the clinician should be cognisant of the literature and ongoing investigations on AIDN, and raise awareness of the risks of both surgery and anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000633:toxicity*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D016857:Hypocapnia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007022:Hypotension / Q000503:physiopathology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D059035:Perioperative Period
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics