Anaesthesia-induced developmental neurotoxicity: reality or fiction?

As animal evidence continues to mount, we face a real dilemma regarding the clinical relevance of anaesthesia-induced developmental neurotoxicity. In December 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an announcement stating that commonly used general anaesthetics could potentially be detrimental to very young and rapidly developing brains. This announcement was based on an extensive body of animal research.^1–24 Now we must grapple with the FDA's official recommendation that potential risks should be balanced with the benefits of appropriate anaesthesia in young children. More importantly, as we deal with the official expectation that potential risks should be discussed with families and heath-care providers, we are reminded how crucial it is to deepen our understanding of the pertinent mechanisms and potential long-lasting behavioural outcomes relating to the exposure of the young brain to anaesthesia.

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