Developmental Anesthesia Neurotoxicity in Humans: Finding the Sweet Spot?

( Br J Anaesth . 2024;132(5):835–836. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2024.03.004) The question of whether early-life exposure to anesthesia causes long-term neurodevelopmental or behavioral issues in humans remains controversial. While preclinical models have shown potential anesthesia-related neurotoxicity during brain development, human studies have failed to consistently demonstrate significant long-term effects. One reason for this discrepancy could be differences in the timing of vulnerability investigated in the laboratory and clinical settings. In particular, most preclinical studies suggest that anesthesia exposure during the second or third trimester of pregnancy may cause harm, rather than postnatal exposure.