A highly productive SmartTots Workshop was held in Washington, DC on June 20. More than 50 researchers and stakeholders convened to identify a study or series of studies that would inform the future scientific direction and fundraising activities of the SmartTots initiative, and to consider whether modifications to the 2012 Consensus Statement on the Use of Anesthetics and Sedatives in Children are warranted in light of the additional research findings over the past 18 months. Significant progress was made toward both objectives.
The workshop commenced with a charge from the SmartTots Steering Committee Co-Chairs, Dr. Santhanam Suresh of Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago and Dr. Bob Rappaport, Director of the Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Addiction Products in the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, followed by presentations from 11 investigators who reported on their studies and findings to date. The participants then split into two breakout sessions, with one discussing the needed studies while the other considered the Consensus Statement. The group reconvened in a plenary session to hear reports from the breakout groups and discuss their work.
A complete report on the workshop outcomes will be included in a future SmartTots e-Newsletter.