Dr. Roizen's Advice

The National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), an internationally recognized research center at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and several universities are conducting research regarding the effects of anesthetics on the nervous systems of animals during developmental periods of rapid brain growth. This research demonstrates that exposure to some commonly used anesthetics and sedatives may cause memory and learning difficulties and other harmful changes in the central nervous systems of animals. Currently, there is not sufficient evidence to determine whether these findings are translatable to the millions of young children who receive anesthesia each year.

In the United States alone, more than 1 million children, 4 years of age and under, undergo surgical procedures requiring anesthesia annually. While most children appear to recover well, findings from these animal studies call for further research to ensure the safety of every child undergoing anesthesia.

Until this determination can be made, children requiring surgery essential to their heath should proceed as directed by their physician. Young children usually do not undergo surgery unless the procedure is vital to their wellbeing. Therefore, postponing a necessary procedure may itself lead to significant health problems, and may not be an option for the majority of children.

SmartTots is designed to facilitate, fund and encourage the research necessary to definitively determine whether anesthetic exposure causes harmful side effects in young children, and potentially foster the development of new, safer anesthetic drugs. It is the goal of SmartTots to make anesthesia as safe as possible for the millions of young children who undergo surgery every year.

We hope you will consider supporting SmartTots in our mission to ensure the safety of anesthetic exposure in children. There is much work to be done, but the end result is well worth the journey.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mike Roizen