Epigenetics in PostOperative Pediatric Emergence Delirium

Summary

Emergence delirium (ED) infers the occurrence of behavior and cognition changes during the early postoperative period. Main signs and symptoms of ED are the disturbances of consciousness and awareness of the environment, with disorientation and perceptual alterations, including hypersensitivity to external stimuli and hyperactive motor behaviors. The incidence may be higher than 80%. Risk factors include pre-school age, use of sevoflurane, ophthalmologic and otorhinolaryngologic surgeries, child anxiety, parental or caregiver anxiety. The recurrence of ED is controversial. The only validated scale for diagnosis of ED is the PAED (Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium). Prevention is the best approach, as well as the use of alpha-2 agonists, propofol and total intravenous anesthesia. There are still no clear markers for postoperative delirium, especially ED. Cognitive alterations may be related to epigenetic modifications. Anesthesia-induced epigenetic changes may be the key to understanding perioperative complications and outcomes and is a field of future research in anesthesia. The study aims to analyze the DNA methylation profile in children with ED. A prospective, randomized study will be carried out in up to 322 children undergoing general anesthesia (inhalation group or intravenous group) to perform endoscopic procedures at the Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil. Patients will have blood samples drawn, and analysis of the DNA methylation profile through the array technique will be performed in 40 children (20 of each group ) who presented ED as well as in 08 control cases. Also, the occurrence of ED will be correlated with the degree of anxiety of the child, parents and during anesthetic induction, in addition to comparing the two anesthetic techniques with the occurrence of ED and late postoperative cognitive alterations.

Conditions

• Emergence Delirium
• Postoperative Complications
• DNA Methylation

Interventions

DRUG

Sevoflurane

All children will receive inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane through facial mask in concentrations between 3-8% for anesthesia induction. After induction and peripheral vein puncture, the anesthesia will be maintained only with sevoflurane 3% until completion of the procedure.

DRUG

Propofol

All children will receive inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane through facial mask in concentrations between 3-8% until lost of conscience and peripheral vein puncture. After that, sevoflurane will be turned off and its clearance will be analyzed through gas analyzer monitor. From here, anesthesia will be maintained as total venous with continuous propofol infusion 100 mcg.kg.min-1 until completion of the procedure.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Sao Paulo

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Maria JC Carmona, PhD · Associate Professor

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SCREENING

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

1 Year

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-09-24

Primary Completion

2021-12-07

Completion

2021-12-31

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations