Changes in Plasma Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Children Receiving Sevoflurane Anesthesia: A Preliminary Randomized Trial

We investigated changes in plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein concentration during sevoflurane anesthesia induction in children < 3 years old and determined the effect of co-administering dexmedetomidine. This preliminary randomized trial included 60 pediatric patients who received sevoflurane anesthesia for >3 h. Patients were assigned to dexmedetomidine or control groups at a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was changes in plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein concentration of dexmedetomidine and control groups over time. Fifty-five patients were included in the final analysis. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) of the plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein level was 387.7 (298.9–510.8) pg·mL(−1) immediately after anesthetic induction, 302.6 (250.9–412.5) pg·mL(−1) at 30 min, and 321.9 (233.8–576.2) pg·mL(−1) at 180 min after the first sample. These values did not change over time (p = 0.759). However, plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein increased after 180 min of infusion of dexmedetomidine compared with values at 30 min infusion (p = 0.04, mean difference and 95% confidence interval of 221.6 and 2.2 to 441.0 pg·mL(−1)). In conclusion, three hours of sevoflurane anesthesia in pediatric patients < 3 years old did not provoke neuronal injury assessed by the plasma biomarker. Further studies regarding the effect of prolonged dexmedetomidine infusion on anesthetic neuronal injury are required.