A Double-Edged Sword: Volatile Anesthetic Effects on the Neonatal Brain
The use of volatile anesthetics, a group of general anesthetics, is an exceedingly common practice. These anesthetics may have neuroprotective effects. Over the last decade, anesthetic induced neurotoxicity in pediatric populations has gained a certain notoriety based on pre-clinical cell and animal...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2014-04-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/4/2/273 |
| _version_ | 1818197094287015936 |
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| author | Sunny Chiao Zhiyi Zuo |
| author_facet | Sunny Chiao Zhiyi Zuo |
| author_sort | Sunny Chiao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of volatile anesthetics, a group of general anesthetics, is an exceedingly common practice. These anesthetics may have neuroprotective effects. Over the last decade, anesthetic induced neurotoxicity in pediatric populations has gained a certain notoriety based on pre-clinical cell and animal studies demonstrating that general anesthetics may induce neurotoxicity, including neuroapoptosis, neurodegeneration, and long-term neurocognitive and behavioral deficits. With hundreds of millions of people having surgery under general anesthesia worldwide, and roughly six million children annually in the U.S. alone, the importance of clearly defining toxic or protective effects of general anesthetics cannot be overstated. Yet, with our expanding body of knowledge, we have come to learn that perhaps not all volatile anesthetics have the same pharmacological profiles; certain ones may have a more favorable neurotoxic profile and may actually exhibit neuroprotection in specific populations and situations. Thus far, very few clinical studies exist, and have not yet been convincing enough to alter our practice. This review will provide an update on current data regarding volatile anesthetic induced neurotoxicity and neuroprotection in neonatal and infant populations. In addition, this paper will discuss ongoing studies and the trajectory of further research over the coming years. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T01:44:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-82c621cdc7084d4caacd99a193ba47c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T01:44:30Z |
| publishDate | 2014-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-82c621cdc7084d4caacd99a193ba47c62022-12-22T00:42:37ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252014-04-014227329410.3390/brainsci4020273brainsci4020273A Double-Edged Sword: Volatile Anesthetic Effects on the Neonatal BrainSunny Chiao0Zhiyi Zuo1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USADepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USAThe use of volatile anesthetics, a group of general anesthetics, is an exceedingly common practice. These anesthetics may have neuroprotective effects. Over the last decade, anesthetic induced neurotoxicity in pediatric populations has gained a certain notoriety based on pre-clinical cell and animal studies demonstrating that general anesthetics may induce neurotoxicity, including neuroapoptosis, neurodegeneration, and long-term neurocognitive and behavioral deficits. With hundreds of millions of people having surgery under general anesthesia worldwide, and roughly six million children annually in the U.S. alone, the importance of clearly defining toxic or protective effects of general anesthetics cannot be overstated. Yet, with our expanding body of knowledge, we have come to learn that perhaps not all volatile anesthetics have the same pharmacological profiles; certain ones may have a more favorable neurotoxic profile and may actually exhibit neuroprotection in specific populations and situations. Thus far, very few clinical studies exist, and have not yet been convincing enough to alter our practice. This review will provide an update on current data regarding volatile anesthetic induced neurotoxicity and neuroprotection in neonatal and infant populations. In addition, this paper will discuss ongoing studies and the trajectory of further research over the coming years.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/4/2/273anesthesiaanestheticsneuroprotectionneurotoxicitypediatricsvolatile anestheticspreconditioningpostconditioningischemic conditioning |
| spellingShingle | Sunny Chiao Zhiyi Zuo A Double-Edged Sword: Volatile Anesthetic Effects on the Neonatal Brain Brain Sciences anesthesia anesthetics neuroprotection neurotoxicity pediatrics volatile anesthetics preconditioning postconditioning ischemic conditioning |
| title | A Double-Edged Sword: Volatile Anesthetic Effects on the Neonatal Brain |
| title_full | A Double-Edged Sword: Volatile Anesthetic Effects on the Neonatal Brain |
| title_fullStr | A Double-Edged Sword: Volatile Anesthetic Effects on the Neonatal Brain |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Double-Edged Sword: Volatile Anesthetic Effects on the Neonatal Brain |
| title_short | A Double-Edged Sword: Volatile Anesthetic Effects on the Neonatal Brain |
| title_sort | double edged sword volatile anesthetic effects on the neonatal brain |
| topic | anesthesia anesthetics neuroprotection neurotoxicity pediatrics volatile anesthetics preconditioning postconditioning ischemic conditioning |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/4/2/273 |
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