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The effects of general anaesthesia on memory in children: a comparison between propofol and sevoflurane
Author(s) -
Yin J.,
Wang S.L.,
Liu X.B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/anae.12504
Subject(s) - medicine , propofol , sevoflurane , anesthesia , general anaesthesia , wechsler memory scale , wechsler adult intelligence scale , memoria , surgery , cognition , psychiatry
Summary We studied the effects of general anaesthesia on memory 7 days and 3 months following elective hernia surgery. Sixty children aged between 7 and 13 years were randomly allocated to receive either propofol or sevoflurane. Memory was classified into immediate, short‐term and long‐term memory and assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale‐Propofol impaired short‐term memory 7 days postoperatively compared with pre‐operative values (image recalling: p = 0.02, figure recognition: p = 0.01, visual reproduction: p = 0.03) but recovered to baseline levels 3 months following surgery. Neither general anaesthetic affected immediate or long‐term memory. We conclude that propofol impairs short‐term memory postoperatively in children.