The effects of general anaesthesia on memory in children: a comparison between propofol and sevoflurane.
We studied the effects of general anaesthesia on memory 7 days and 3 months following elective hernia surgery. Sixty children aged between 7 and 13 years were randomly allocated to receive either propofol or sevoflurane. Memory was classified into immediate, short-term and long-term memory and assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Propofol impaired short-term memory 7 days postoperatively compared with pre-operative values (image recalling: p = 0.02, figure recognition: p = 0.01, visual reproduction: p = 0.03) but recovered to baseline levels 3 months following surgery. Neither general anaesthetic affected immediate or long-term memory. We conclude that propofol impairs short-term memory postoperatively in children.
Department of Anesthesia, Second People's Hospital of Wuhu, Wuhu, Anhui, China.
J
J
Yin
S-L
SL
Wang
X-B
XB
Liu
D000293:Adolescent; D018681:Anesthetics, General / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D057567:Memory, Long-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015742:Propofol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D018681:Anesthetics, General; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D015742:Propofol