Prenatal Exposure to General Anesthesia and Childhood Behavioral Deficit

Exposure to surgery and anesthesia in early childhood has been found to be associated with an increased risk of behavioral deficits. While the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against prenatal exposure to anesthetic drugs, little clinical evidence exists to support this recommendation.

Citation:
Ing C, Landau R, Destephano D, Miles CH, Von Ungern-Sternberg BS, Li G, Whitehouse AJO. Prenatal Exposure to General Anesthesia and Childhood Behavioral Deficit. Anesth Analg. 2021:595-605.

Abstract:
Exposure to surgery and anesthesia in early childhood has been found to be associated with an increased risk of behavioral deficits. While the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against prenatal exposure to anesthetic drugs, little clinical evidence exists to support this recommendation.