This book chapter, including a section on the pediatric population, explores the issues of concern and clinical significance of the neurotoxic side effects of general anesthesia. The authors 1) summarize research findings in young animals that demonstrate “deleterious” side effects; 2) describe preclinical findings on mechanisms of anesthesia-induced neurotoxicity; 3) identify anesthetic agents implicated in neuronal loss and brain cell death; 4) address challenges in translating findings in young animals to human children; and 5) highlight findings in select clinical retrospective studies and clinical trials, like the Mayo Anesthesia Safety in Kids, MASK, study.
Regier & Rondeau.
Anesthetic Neurotoxicity October 2021