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Original poster

General anesthesia in early infancy unlikely to have lasting effects on developing brains

29 replies

ABigRascal · 09/03/2019 09:36

www.news-medical.net/news/20190215/Study-General-anesthesia-in-early-infancy-unlikely-to-have-lasting-effects-on-developing-brains.aspx

This is the most recent of various research and is largely reassuring, although mostly on boys. The animal studies are quite concerning but I think much higher doses of anaesthetic were involved.

It sounds like some strategies for neuroprotection during anaesthesia are being studied but like everything it takes so long.

My 1 year old girl needs a procedure soon that can't wait until she is 3 and I know it's the right thing to do but I feel absolutely sick and not that reassured by "it's probably ok" although I know the drs looking after her are doing their best and the right thing. It's booked for later this month.

Does anybody have any reassuring stories? She's so perfect, I don't want her to change, though I know rationally she won't.

OP posts:

Original poster

ABigRascal · 09/03/2019 09:38

I should add that although it's hopefully a one off, she might need more before she is 3

OP posts:

CruCru · 09/03/2019 10:15

I'm sorry to hear that your daughter needs surgery - I hope that it goes well.

I think the thing to bear in mind is that anaesthetists are really, really good at what they do. You only ever hear about bad stuff, rather than the thousands of times that things go exactly as they should.

No one will ever give a young child a general unless they really need to.

Twerking9til5 · 09/03/2019 10:19

One of mine had 4 general anaesthetics between 10m and 14m.

Currently predicted A* s at A level...

happymummy12345 · 09/03/2019 10:44

My son had to have an operation under GA when he was a year old. My husband went to the room with him and held him until he was asleep. He also went back to get him. He was fine. When he came back to the ward he was being carried by my husband and was smiling away, and half an hour later was trying to stand up in the cot. (I couldn't face seeing him like that so my husband went instead).
We were naturally very worried but it was nowhere near as bad as we thought it would be.
Good luck

TapasForTwo · 09/03/2019 10:47

DD had her first GA at 9 weeks, then regular GAs every 6 months for the next 3 years. She had one at 6, then one at 11.

She achieved 10 excellent GCSEs, and AAA at A level last year.

Clearly all those GAs didn't affect her developing brain (and the first one was for a life saving operation)

Please try not to worry. You will get loads of support at the hospital as well. I hope it goes well

Original poster

ABigRascal · 09/03/2019 12:56

Thank you. This is reassuring.

It's hard because I hate knowingly doing something that could cause her harm. But if we wait, it could too and rationally I know that is the bigger risk hence doing it now. What a horrible dilemma, though I know we are fortunate that procedures are available to us

OP posts:

Dowser · 09/03/2019 13:18

My son was born with acleft lip and palate
He had his first surgery at 5 months, second at 11 months
And many more over the years

I think he’s ok..he’s 37
He seems of normal intelligence
Two children of his own
Does that help

Dowser · 09/03/2019 13:24

He recovered very quickly from the anaesthetics too much to the amazement of the nursing’s staff
Was never sick and was bouncing up and down in next to no time demanding food

He was my surprise baby that my husband ( at first ) didn’t want me to keep...never regretted for a second that I did, especially when cheating lying twuntface walked out on me.

OvO · 09/03/2019 13:30

I had my first surgery and general anaesthetic at 2 hours old! I’m absolutely fine. .

JassyRadlett · 09/03/2019 13:31

My youngest had a similar sort of surgery - not emergency, but the risks increased the longer we waited. He had the op at 20 months and while it wasn’t fun (milk monster toddler + pre-op fasting = no fun for anyone) he is currently a bright, funny, chatty three-year old who can recognise numbers as well as count, has an encyclopaedic knowledge of animals and dinosaurs and a wicked sense of humour.

To be aware: the nurses warned me before he went in that ‘babies this age are usually quite cross when they come round from anaesthetic’. They had that right. We could hear him screaming from down the corridor when we were headed to recovery after being paged that he was out.....

foxyfemke · 09/03/2019 13:38

Mine had GA and was on bypass at 6,5 weeks. He's now almost 4 and absolutely fine.

Original poster

ABigRascal · 09/03/2019 14:58

Thank you all. This is comforting.

If there are any more stories especially for girls that would put my mind at rest even more 😊

OP posts:

Hippychickster · 09/03/2019 15:04

My son had a GA at 1 yr.
He got 10 GCSEs, a 1st class degree and is now 25 and a quantity surveyor.

My daughter had one at 2yrs old
She got 8 GCSEs, a 2:1 degree and is now 28 and a detective.

Please try not to worry.

TapasForTwo · 09/03/2019 15:04

In fact, the worst part was the pre-op fasting. She recovered quickly from the GAs.

HopeAndJoy16 · 09/03/2019 15:05

My DD had a quick op at 13/14 months for a split lip. I don't know how long she was under for (couldn't get out of work, but i think less than an hour) she was- and is!- absolutely fine now. Agree with anaesthetists being very good at what they do!

ElfrideSwancourt · 09/03/2019 15:11

My DD had a general anaesthetic when she was 4 weeks old - she is now at university after getting A/A* in all her gcses and A levels - definitely don't think it affected her brain!

We didn't have a choice she needed the op straight away.

Johnnysmilkingparlour · 09/03/2019 15:18

My eldest had GA's at 4 days, 9 days, 5 weeks and 6 weeks. He was sedated, paralysed from and on a vent 4 days until about 6 weeks. He is the best child ever. I could not wish for a lovelier boy.

Johnnysmilkingparlour · 09/03/2019 15:20

Sorry, thatshould read and on a vent from 4 days until about 6 weeks.

Autumn101 · 09/03/2019 15:26

My nearly 9 year old had an 8 hour op at 13 months old and then 3 more GAs before he started school. He also had over 20 admissions to hospital within the first 2 years of his life and countless x-rays, IV drugs.......

He is an absolutely delightful, funny, cheeky, active child who couldn’t be more perfect!

It’s not nice having to hand them over but we have to do the right thing for them to help them. Mine bounced back so quickly with all the GAs, even with the longest op within a few hours he was sitting up playing and chuntering away to himself! By the next day he was running up and down the ward laughing his little head off!!

katmarie · 09/03/2019 15:30

My ds had a ga at 11 months. What amazed me was firstly how willing the anaesthetist was to sit and talk with us, and answer all of our questions, also the surgeon, who spent all the time we needed. The anaesthetist made a point of saying hello to ds as well and making him smile.

The second thing that amazed me was how fast everything happened once ds was knocked out. I held him while they put him under and literally the second he was out they had him on the bed and into theatre, they absolutely weren't wasting a second. It was clear they took the whole thing incredibly seriously. This was at alder hey, and the whole team was amazing.

Ds is 13 months now, and fit as a fiddle. It took him a couple of days to recover but there have been no lasting effects and we have no developmental concerns.

voxnihili · 09/03/2019 15:43

I had my first GA at 6 months. Went to grammar school and have a degree and master's degree.

Witchend · 09/03/2019 16:42

They don't do GA at that age unless they really need to, so if they're recommending it then it does need to be done.
Plus then they children they're looking at who have had GA haven't had it for no reason, so it would be really hard not to say it's the GA that's caused any issues rather than the reasons behind it.

TapasForTwo · 09/03/2019 17:19

Excellent points Witchend

CatherineVelindre · 09/03/2019 17:27

DN had life saving heart surgery aged 2 weeks. It was the longest day of my life, so heaven knows how his DM handled it.

He's now away at university having the time of his life.

Patchworksack · 09/03/2019 17:35

My daughter had a GA at 8 months old for an MRI scan. It was very upsetting for me holding her whilst she went to sleep, I wasn't emotionally prepared for her going limp and floppy so quickly (even though I'm a vet and have GA'd countless animals - it's different when it's your baby!) She was fine. Good luck.

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