“Does anesthesia cause any developmental issues in kids?”
My son had to be operated under anesthesia for a fall he had. He is just 3 years old. Can the anesthesia trigger any developmental problems in him?
3 Answers
If your son needed surgery, then he also needed anesthesia. Pediatric anesthesia is safer today than it has ever been.
Anesthesiologists use as little sedation as possible and the safest available. Usually there are no problems, especially if he woke up quickly after being put to sleep. If there was head injury with the fall, this could cause problems, especially if repeat trauma to the head.
Yes! Anesthetics work on the cells of the brain. Anesthetics alter brain function. Thus they may unmask neuro-developmental signs/symptoms. When a child falls on his head, this act also unmasks neuro-developmental signs. The surgery your son had may also unmask neuro-developmental signs, so it’s not just the anesthetic. Please understand, developmental problems aren’t necessarily a bad thing! Your son needs to be evaluated by a pediatric developmental specialist.
