The immature heart and anesthesia

Abstract

Immature hearts are more profoundly affected by many anesthetics than are adult hearts. Maturational changes in a variety of cellular and subcellular systems and influences of the autonomic nervous system may be responsible, but as yet, specific mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Studies of the interactions of anesthetics with the immature human heart are for the most part lacking, and extrapolation from other species is difficult. This is a fertile area for investigation, particularly for studies of the effects of the newer clinical anesthetics, which are lacking.