Effects of Cumulative Duration of Repeated Anesthesia Exposure on Fetal Brain Development in the Ovine Model

Abstract

(J Clin Anesth. 2023;85:111050) This study examines the impact of repeated and prolonged exposure to sevoflurane anesthesia on fetal neurodevelopment in pregnant sheep. The rationale behind this research lies in the concern over the possible negative effects of long or repeated exposure to anesthesia during pregnancy on fetal brain development, particularly based on findings in animal studies. The experiment involves exposing pregnant sheep to different anesthesia regimens and conducting neurobehavioral assessments of their offspring. It aims to determine whether repeated exposure results in neurodevelopmental impairments. The study follows ethical guidelines designed to align with principles promoting humane animal research.