Journal article
Histopathological observations in the brains of children exposed to inhalational anesthetic agents: a retrospective autopsy-based study
Minerva anestesiologica, v 81(12), pp 1329-1337
01 Dec 2015
PMID: 26337370
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background. Numerous animal models have demonstrated neuronal damage resulting from anesthetic exposure in the developing brain. Studies have shown a relationship between anesthetic exposure and brain hypoxia, neurode-generation and apoptosis. The relevance of data derived from controlled experimental studies to human neuropathology is a subject of debate. This study compares histopathological findings in post-mortem brain tissue specimens from children with and without exposure to inhalational anesthetic agents.
Methods. Autopsy reports were reviewed. Patients were divided into exposure and non-exposure groups defined as any procedure involving inhalational anesthetic agents. A retrospective chart review was performed collecting pathological findings of the brain. The autopsy results examined the presence of twelve different histopathological parameters reflecting morphologic changes in thirteen regions of interest in the central nervous system.
Results. Post-mortem neuropathological findings were analyzed. Thirteen different areas were focused upon and changes were categorized into twelve histopathological parameters. Gliosis, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein, was more prevalent in the exposure group (N.=48) compared to the non-exposure group (N.=20) (P<0.05).
Conclusion. The role of anesthetic neurotoxicity is not well understood. Numerous animal models have demonstrated neuronal apoptotic changes linked to anesthetic exposure, there is no tangible evidence supporting this relationship in humans. Our analysis demonstrates histopathological brain changes in children with anesthetic exposure not seen in the non-exposed group. Analysis was based on histopathological parameters representative of salient morphological findings of injury, which were encountered in anatomically divergent regions. Gliosis was the only statistically significant finding in post-mortem brain samples of patients who had received anesthetics.
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Details
- Title
- Histopathological observations in the brains of children exposed to inhalational anesthetic agents: a retrospective autopsy-based study
- Creators
- M. S. Green - Drexel Univ, Hahnemann Univ Hosp, Coll Med, Dept Anesthesiol, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USAM. M. Aman - Drexel Univ, Hahnemann Univ Hosp, Coll Med, Dept Anesthesiol, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USAL. Stevens - Drexel Univ, Hahnemann Univ Hosp, Coll Med, Dept Anesthesiol, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USAK. Voralu - Drexel Univ, Hahnemann Univ Hosp, Coll Med, Dept Anesthesiol, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USAP. Saththasivam - Drexel Univ, Hahnemann Univ Hosp, Coll Med, Dept Anesthesiol, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USAG. Mychaskiw - Drexel Univ, Hahnemann Univ Hosp, Coll Med, Dept Anesthesiol, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USAC. D. Katsetos - Drexel Univ, St Christophers Hosp Children, Coll Med, Dept Pediat,Dept Pathol,Lab Med, Philadelphia, PA 19102 USA
- Publication Details
- Minerva anestesiologica, v 81(12), pp 1329-1337
- Publisher
- Edizioni Minerva Medica
- Number of pages
- 9
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000369558200009
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84950320008
- Other Identifier
- 991019168960504721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Anesthesiology
- Critical Care Medicine