title: General Anesthetics and Neurotoxicity: How Much Do We Know?
abstract: Over a decade ago, alarming findings were reported that exposure of the very young and very old animals to clinically used general anesthetics could be detrimental to their brains. The evidence presented suggested that the exposure to commonly used gaseous and intravenous general anesthetics induces the biochemical and morphologic changes in the immature and aging neurons ultimately resulting in their demise. More alarming was the demonstration of significant cognitive and behavioral impairments noted long after the initial anesthesia exposure. This article provides an overview of anesthesia-induced developmental neurotoxicity and commentary on the effects of general anesthesia on the aging brain.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Mail Stop B-113, Leprino Office Building 7th Floor, 12401 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Electronic address: VESNA.JEVTOVIC-TODOROVIC@UCDENVER.EDU.
authors: Vesna
authors: V
authors: Jevtovic-Todorovic
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D018681:Anesthetics, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018681:Anesthetics, General; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents
keywords: Aging brain; GABA; Immature brain; Learning and memory; NMDA; Synaptic transmission; Synaptogenesis