Neurodevelopmental Outcome at 5 Years of Age After General Anesthesia or Awake-Regional Anesthesia in Infancy

Abstract

Abstract GAS was the first RCT to assess the effect of general anesthesia in infancy on childhood neurocognitive outcomes. This randomized, controlled, equivalence trial compared regional versus general anesthesia for infants undergoing inguinal hernia repair. The primary outcome was full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) at 5 years. The investigators demonstrated equivalence of the 2 approaches—both IQ and multiple secondary neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes were similar in the 2 study arms at 5 years. Based on these results, clinicians and parents can be reassured that a single short exposure to general anesthesia during infancy should not have adverse developmental consequences during childhood.