Autism Spectrum Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
anesthesia
Brief summary
As anesthesia is often needed for childhood surgery and procedures, researchers have examined the potential effects of anesthesia on neurodevelopment. There are few studies that have examined the effect of anesthesia on neurodevelopment in children with confirmed diagnoses of ASD, and the results of these studies are mixed. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders can have age-dependent variations in brain anatomy, function, and connectivity, which may alter their sensitivity to the potential neurotoxic effects of anesthetic and sedative drugs. Given the potential adverse neurodevelopmental effects of anesthesia on typically developing children, it is important to examine if anesthesia exposure can worsen the clinical course of ASD.
Detailed description
We hypothesize that children with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD will regress developmentally following general anesthesia for dental surgery in comparison to children without ASD (controls) undergoing dental surgery. In this pilot study, we will investigate this hypothesis through the following objectives: 1. to determine in a clinical study if anesthesia induces post-operative persistent adverse changes children with ASD as compared with typically developing controls; 2. to determine the potential mechanism for the adverse effects of anesthetics on patients with ASD compared to healthy controls, peripheral blood mononuclear cells will be isolated from blood samples (PBMCs), before genomic DNA isolation for mitochondrial content analysis.
Interventions
PROCEDUREDental surgery
All types of dental surgery
Sponsors
The Hospital for Sick Children
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
4 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
For Autism Spectrum Disorder Group: * child is undergoing dental surgery * child is aged 4 to 12 years * child has mild-to-moderate diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder * child has an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status level I or II
Exclusion criteria
for Autism Spectrum Disorder Group: \- child does not use words or phrases to communicate Inclusion Criteria for Typically Developed Controls Group: * child is undergoing dental surgery * child is matched to an autism spectrum disorder participant according to age, gender, and ASA level
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Current language and behaviour skills | up to 3 months before surgery | measured using the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised |
| Regression in language and behaviour skills | up to 12 weeks following anesthetic exposure | measured using the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Metabolic make-up | immediately prior to anesthetic exposure | measured using quantitative polymerase chain reactions |
| Metabolic changes | within 1-2 hours following anesthetic exposure | measured using quantitative polymerase chain reactions |
| Current sleep habits | up to 3 months before surgery | measured using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire |
| Regression in sleep habits | up to 12 weeks following anesthetic exposure | measured using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire |
| Current social communication skills | up to 3 months before surgery | measured using the Social Communication Questionnaire |
| Regression in non-specific behaviour skills | up to 12 weeks following anesthetic exposure | measured using the Abberant Behaviour Checklist |
| Current social responsiveness skills | up to 3 months before surgery | measured using the Social Responsiveness Scale |
| Regression in social responsiveness skills | up to 12 weeks following anesthetic exposure | measured using the Social Responsiveness Scale |
| Posthospitalization Behaviours | 3 days following anesthetic exposure | measured using the Posthospitalization Behaviour Questionnaire |
| Changes in posthospitalization behaviours | up to 12 weeks following anesthetic exposure | measured using semi-structured interview |
| Regression in social communication skills | up to 12 weeks following anesthetic exposure | measured using the Social Communication Questionnaire |
| Current non-specific behaviour skills | up to 3 months before surgery | measured using the Abberant Behaviour Checklist |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed