Anesthetic Effects on the Developing Nervous System

Abstract

The author comments on studies which investigated the effects of intrathecal ketamine and morphine on the developing nervous system of neonatal rats. He observes that while the studies have validated a model for studying intrathecal anesthetics and analgesics effects on early postnatal development, they failed to include an assessment of local anesthetics. The author also mentions another study which reveals that intrathecal doses cause histopatholic effects in adult rats, including degeneration and demyelination of axons.