Going under anaesthesia may put toddlers at higher risk of of developmental and behaviorial problems, according to a new study reported at the American Society of Anaesthesiologists.
The study compared children who went under for hernia surgery against children with no history of anaesthesia. The kids were all under age three, and doctors said they found that the anaesthesia exposed children were about twice as likely to be subsequently diagnosed with either a developmental or behavioral disorder.
However, experts cautioned parents against preventing their kids from getting surgery because of these findings. They said the evidence isn't strong enough for such a course of action.
It's also not clear if the kids who got surgery and anaesthesia were affected by going under or if they were already predisposed to behavioral and development problems.
