The impact of general anesthesia on child development and school performance: a population-based study.
Francisco J SchneuerJason P BentleyAndrew J DavidsonAndrew J A HollandNadia BadawiAndrew J MartinJustin J SkownoSamantha J LainNatasha NassarPublished in: Paediatric anaesthesia (2018)
Children exposed to general anesthesia before 4 years have poorer development at school entry and school performance. While the association among children with 1 hospitalization with 1 general anesthesia and no other hospitalization was attenuated, poor numeracy outcome remained. Further investigation of the specific effects of general anesthesia and the impact of the underlying health conditions that prompt the need for surgery or diagnostic procedures is required, particularly among children exposed to long duration of general anesthesia or with repeated hospitalizations.