Anaesthesia and brain damage in the newborn

Abstract

Eighty newborn babies were studied by ultrasound brain scan before and after their first general anaesthetic. Periventricular haemorrhage or ischaemia occurred in 23 patients (29%) and affected both term and premature babies. Four new lesions developed but only three of 19 existing lesions deteriorated. The very premature (< 33 weeks gestation) were most at risk (four of eight deteriorated). Deterioration or development of lesions occurred only in very ill babies with known risk factors. Anaesthesia did not appear to be implicated in any case. Copyright © 1989, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved