Your child tripped on the back steps and has ended up with a long deep gash on their leg. You head to the ER to get it stitched up. Turns out your toddler has other plans and wails and thrashes around whenever the doctors try to take a look. In many ERs around the country the doctor will recommend sedating your child to prevent the trauma your child is experiencing as well as the anguish you must be feeling watching your child suffer.
For the last ten years, evidence has been building that giving young children anesthesia can be bad for their developing nervous system. The evidence in juvenile rodents is extremely compelling while studies in humans show a trend but some variability. Links have been shown between anesthesia before 4 years of age and increased rates of ADHD and cognitive dysfunction. While there are many cases that require surgery before the age of 4, there are often elective surgeries that would be better postponed. Continue reading “Don’t knock out your toddler”
The Finch and Pea 