Neuroinflammatory and Neurocognitive Effects of Spinal vs. Inhalational Anesthesia for Elective Surgery in Infants

Emmett Whitaker, M.D.

Overview

Significant concern regarding the safety of general anesthesia in children has arisen due to myriad animal studies suggesting neurotoxicity of commonly used anesthetic agents. Inflammation of the central nervous system after anesthesia may have a significant role in the pathogenesis of anesthetic-induced neural injury. To evaluate this hypothesis, the investigators propose to randomize healthy infants undergoing elective surgery to one of two anesthetics: 1) spinal anesthesia only; or 2) general inhalational anesthesia with isoflurane, laryngeal mask airway (LMA) or endotracheal tube (ETT), and single-shot caudal block. Primary endpoint will be serum inflammatory biomarkers and transcriptome analysis and secondary endpoint will be neurocognitive outcome at 6 months and 1 year.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Conditions

Inguinal Hernia

Interventions

Spinal Anesthesia (bupivacaine)DRUG

Bupivacaine is an amide-type, long-acting local anesthetic. Brand names include Exparel, Marcaine, and Sensorcaine.

General Anesthesia (isoflurane)DRUG

Isoflurane is a fluorinated ether with general anesthetic and muscle relaxant effects. Brand names include Forane and Terrell.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMax age: 1 Year

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Otherwise healthy child aged 0-less than 13 months undergoing elective (non-emergent) general, urologic, orthopedic, and plastic surgery 2. Parent/guardian must provide written informed consent in accordance with human investigation committee guidelines 3. Participants must be American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) physical status ≤ 2 Exclusion Criteria: 1. Any active bacterial or viral infection within the last 14 days 2. Treatment in the last 48 hours with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) or corticosteroid medications, or any other drug known to suppress or induce inflammation 3. Anticoagulant administration in the last 48 hours 4. Patients that have an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status \>2 5. Infants born more than 4 weeks premature

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in proinflammatory miRNAs

Blood samples will be analyzed for a composite measure of systemic inflammation caused by the anesthetic agent. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression will be compared between the time points for each patient and between arms. Total RNA will be extracted from whole blood using a commercially available kit. RNA will then be assayed for transcriptome analysis using microarray technology. Serum cytokines will be analyzed using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin one beta (IL-1β),Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein one (MCP-1), Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-ĸB), transcription factor p65, and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B). miR-155, miR-146a, miR-146b, and miR-142-3p will be quantified using quantified polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Time frame: Blood will be drawn before surgical incision, at the conclusion of the surgery (typically ~1 hour after incision), and at arrival to the PACU (typically 10-30 minutes after end of surgery)

Secondary Outcomes

Change in systemic inflammation

Inflammatory biomarkers in the serum will be compared between time points and between arms.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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