Dr. Jerry Chao, Attending Pediatric Anesthesiologist and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, has dedicated his career to studying the effects of anesthesia on infants and young children. In research published in Anesthesia & Analgesia, Dr. Chao and colleagues assessed brain activity in 54 infants and determined that more than one-third of them experienced decreased brain wave activity under anesthesia. This decreased activity is associated with an identifiable brain wave marker that, in prior studies, showed a correlation with infant brain development (i.e., alpha power reflecting the level of 8-12 Hz frequency brain wave activity). The babies were outfitted with a recording cap that monitored brain waves prior to and during anesthesia and surgery. The researchers observed electroencephalogram (EEG) discontinuity in 20 of 54 infants. While the long-term effects of EEG discontinuity are unclear, Dr. Chao aims to utilize technologies such as brain monitors so infant sedation can be dosed according to personalized data, as well as age and weight. The ultimate goal is to understand how anesthesia affects babies and to protect them from potential harm. 

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