Expert: JM Starkman, MD - 7/6/2009

Question
Is it true that is it safer to administer general anesthesia to a child after age 1?  What are the specific reasons why and what are the concerns prior to age 1?

Answer
I don't feel that the age of 1 is a particular cut-off point insofar as pediatric safety is concerned.  Anesthesiologists who are qualified and adequately trained to safely administer various forms of anesthesia to small children ought to be able to provide a high degree of safety to children both older and younger than age 1.  

Concerns that are particular to children under age of 1 include congenital issues, especially related to heart, lung and central nervous system function.  Of course there are may more that could be of relevance unique to any given child.

The standard reference text on this matter is:   Pediatric Anesthesia
by George A. Gregory MD  (Churchill livingstone).