New Concerns About Anesthesia for Young Children
Repeated or lengthy use of general anesthesia may harm children’s brain development, the FDA warns
General anesthesia or sedation use in children under 3 may impact their developing brains, the FDA warned in a statement. WSJ’s Sumathi Reddy and the Mayo Clinic’s Dr. David Warner discuss on Lunch Break with Tanya Rivero. Photo: Mayo Clinic
Some pediatricians are concerned that parents may delay important surgeries for their children after the FDA last week warned that certain uses of general anesthesia or sedation drugs in young children may harm brain development.
The warning focused on repeated use of general anesthesia in children under 3 years old, or a one-time use during surgery that lasts three hours or more. The Food and Drug Administration warning also applies...