The panel concluded that there is still insufficient evidence to determine the effect of anesthesia on pediatric development or recommend best practices for pediatric anesthesia. Several studies conducted on pediatric anesthesia have used animals rather than humans, and the few human studies have produced conflicting results, according to the report.
The panel recommended the FDA determine areas of “low-hanging fruit” where research on anesthesia will impact a large number of patients. Studies should be thorough and document drug dosages, ages of pediatric patients studied, length of anesthesia exposure and function prior to exposure to determine the effect of anesthetics.
The panel did have a few suggestions concerning current anesthesia practice. The experts concluded that providers should postpone elective procedures, whenever possible, until pediatric patients are age four years or older, and that anesthesiologists should use the lowest possible dose of anesthetics for the least amount of time. Anesthesia providers should also honor parents’ wishes by not using anesthetics they would not administer to their own children.
Read the Anesthesiology News report on the FDA panel.
Read more on pediatric anesthesia:
–FDA Cannot Draw Definitive Conclusion on Anesthesia in Young Children
–ASA Expresses Support for FDA Research on Pediatric Anesthesia
–50% of Pediatric Patient Parents Do Not Understand the Risks of Benefits of Anesthesia
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