Pediatric anesthesia & critical care
Effects of anaesthesia and surgery on sleep–wake timing and subjective sleep quality in children: an observational study
Authors' conclusion
We found no disruption of sleep-wake rhythm in children after anaesthesia and surgery.
Study context
- Population
- Children aged 1–11 y undergoing anaesthesia for elective surgery or MRI114 analysed
- Participants
- 117 children
- Exposure
- Anaesthesia for elective surgery vs anaesthesia for MRI; night after vs three nights before anaesthesia
- Surgicaln = 58
- MRIn = 56reference
- Outcome
- Midpoint of sleep (sleep diary), night after anaesthesia vs three nights before
- Follow-up
- Night after anaesthesia
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Midpoint of sleep, night after vs three nights before anaesthesia
Surgical
01.37
median · IQR [range] 01.07-02.15 [23.00-03.12]
MRI
01.30
median · IQR [range] 01.07-02.07 [23.45-05.00]
Estimated median time difference, min (95% CI)P value
Surgical, night after vs Surgical, beforen = 58
−15(−27-0)
P = 0.07MRI, night after vs MRI, beforen = 56
0(−9-9)
P = 0.90Surgical vs MRIbetween-group difference
−15(−30-0)
P = 0.07- Night after anaesthesia (all) vs Three nights before · n = 114
- estimated median time difference 8 min (95% CI −15-1); P = 0.12
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Subjective sleep quality was unaffected
Original publication
Effects of anaesthesia and surgery on sleep–wake timing and subjective sleep quality in children: an observational study. Anaesthesia. Published 27 August 2025. doi:10.
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