News and Events

SmartTots: Building Community and Advocating for Important Research


SmartTots pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity thought leaders discuss the current status of the field and provide insights into the future of the research. View on YouTube.

Pediatric Anesthetic Neurotoxicity: Finding Ways to Move Forward


Pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity investigators discuss the state of the research and identify compelling ways to move the field forward. View on YouTube

Pediatric Anesthetic Neurotoxicity: Designing the Proper Study

Pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity thought leaders ponder the feasibility of designing and conducting studies that successfully isolate the effects of anesthetics from the effects of the procedure or patient’s underlying condition. View on YouTube

Pediatric Anesthetic Neurotoxicity: The Pre-Clinical Journey


Pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity researchers discuss how pre-clinical studies are providing insight into the mechanisms of neurotoxicity, and the impact on the future of clinical studies. View on YouTube

Panda Symposium

SmartTots – Perspectives from the Front Lines

Millions of children undergo surgery annually. Recent studies suggest there may be reason for concern. This video, featuring Dr. Dean Andropoulos, Dr. Peter Davis, and Dr. Caleb Ing, provides a summary as to why research is needed and the type that is needed.

SAFETOTS responds to the GAS Trial

Lancet Correspondence from Weiss M, Becke K, Hansen TG, Engelhardt T. This letter represents a consensus response study from the Safe Anesthesia For Every Tot (SAFETOTS) initiative which addresses the need for teaching, training, education, supervision, and research...

Concern grows around anesthesia effects on babies

Research suggests that general anesthesia can be harmful to infant brains. By using a local anesthetic administered by spinal, doctors at UVM Medical Center operated on 12-day-old Mira Barr who was awake, comfortable and even gets a little sleepy. UVM Medical Center...

Straight Talk MD Podcast

Does general anesthesia have any long-term effects on learning, memory, or behavior in infants and children?   Dr. Paul Yost, the Past President of the California Society of Anesthesiologists, speaks to the public on Straight Talk MD and answers the question:...

A Less Risky Anesthesia for Babies

The Wall Street Journal, DEC. 7, 2015   More hospitals evaluate spinal anesthesia for surgeries that last 1½ hours or less Lisa and Mike Barr chose to have their infant, Mira, undergo spinal anesthesia during surgery, a new approach to anesthesia that leaves...

Consensus Statement Supplement Update

San Francisco – November 10, 2015 – SmartTots today released a supplement to their recently updated Consensus Statement.  Immediately following the announcement of the secondary outcomes from the clinical trial, General Anesthesia Compared to Spinal Anesthesia  (the...