In children, deviations from normal physiological parameters during general anaesthesia could lead to negative effects on the brain. Brief modest reductions brain oxygenation while under anaesthesia have been associated with negative post-operative behaviour changes in children at seven days and maybe be a marker for neurocognitive damage. This prospective observational feasibility study is an international collaboration led by A/Prof Peter Frykholm from Uppsala University, Sweden with Perth Children’s Hospital as the only site in Australia. The study will implement a monitoring protocol that includes near infrared spectroscopy perioperatively and a follow-up protocol that includes Post Hospitalisation Behaviour Questionnaire on postoperative day 7 and 30. The researchers aim to recruit 500 children aged 6 months to 5 years before elective or acute surgery requiring general anaesthesia. Researchers hypothesise that it will be feasible to record physiologic changes during anaesthesia and any resulting changes in anaesthesia management in order to identify a potential association between reduced cerebral oxygenation and negative postoperative behavioural changes. Acting on cerebral oxygen desaturation may reduce neurological complications in millions of children undergoing general anaesthesia and improve safety of anaesthesia.
Associate Professor D Sommerfield, Perth Children’s Hospital, Western Australia, Associate Professor Peter Frykholm, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden.
The project was awarded A$70,000 funding through the ANZCA research grants program for 2025.