Table 2.

Factors in assessing clinical trial evidence of anaesthetic effects on neurocognitive development

Retrospective vs prospective design

Age-matched controls vs twin study

Dose and duration of anaesthetic exposure

Choice of anaesthetic agents

Differentiating effects of surgery and anaesthesia

Impact of comorbidities, genetics, and environment

Control of confounding factors

Sedation

Other drugs

Temperature

Hypoxaemia

Hypotension

Ischaemia

Age-appropriate and validated assessments of neurocognitive function

Clinical relevance of small but measurable effects