Maternal exposure to general anesthesia and labor epidural analgesia during pregnancy and delivery, and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes in children
Authors' conclusion
In addition, since clinically significant differences in neurodevelopmental scores in children following exposure have not been found, and a mechanism of injury has not yet been identified in preclinical studies, the benefits of neuraxial labor analgesia appear to outweigh the potential risks.
Study context
- Population
- Children following maternal anesthetic exposure during pregnancy and delivery
- Comparison
- Maternal GA or labor epidural analgesia exposure vs no exposure
- Outcome
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes in children
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Neurodevelopmental outcomes
- GA agents interfere with neurodevelopment in animal models; prenatal exposures in children associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes, causality unclear
- Labor epidural reported associated with autism spectrum diagnoses, possibly due to familial factors; no clinically significant differences in neurodevelopmental scores found and no mechanism of injury identified in preclinical studies
Original publication
Maternal exposure to general anesthesia and labor epidural analgesia during pregnancy and delivery, and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. Int J Obstet Anesth. Published 20 December 2024. doi:10.
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