Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38818870›Full record

Observational studyPaediatric anaesthesia2024

A retrospective observational cohort study of the anesthetic management and outcomes of pediatric patients with Alexander disease undergoing lumbar puncture or magnetic resonance imaging.

Jessica A Berger, Allan F Simpao, Scott R Dubow, Heather A McClung, Geraldine W Liu, Amy T Waldman, Elizabeth T Drum

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Paediatric anaesthesia, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Rigorous genetic diagnosis review in natural history studies.Orphanet journal of rare diseases · 2026
    Article
  2. Observational
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jessica A BergerDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID 0009-0008-9857-3048
Allan F SimpaoDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8871-2579
Scott R DubowDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Heather A McClungDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Geraldine W LiuDivision of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Amy T WaldmanDivision of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-1054-0815
Elizabeth T DrumDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1943-3060

Funding

Validation of the GMFC-MLDU54NS115052 · NINDS · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · PI Adeline Lucie Vanderver · 2019 to 2026
$14.3M
Environmental and genetic risk factors for pediatric MSR01NS071463 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI WAUBANT, EMMANUELLE LAURENCE · 2010 to 2015
$2.8M
Development of visual and neurologic outcome measures in pediatric MSK23NS069806 · NINDS · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · PI WALDMAN, AMY TARA · 2012 to 2016
$924k
Ionis PharmaceuticalsNIH HHSNINDS NIH HHS K23 NS069806NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS071463NINDS NIH HHS U54 NS115052
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlexander disease is a rare, progressive leukodystrophy, which predisposes patients to complications under general anesthesia due to clinical manifestations including developmental delay, seizures, dysphagia, vomiting, and sleep apnea. However, study of anesthetic outcomes is limited.

aimsOur aim was to describe patient characteristics, anesthetic techniques, and anesthesia-related complications for Alexander disease patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging and/or lumbar puncture at a quaternary-care children's hospital.

methodsWe performed a retrospective review of anesthetic outcomes in patients with Alexander disease enrolled in a prospective observational study. Included patients had diagnosed Alexander disease and underwent magnetic resonance imaging and/or lumbar puncture at our institution. We excluded anesthetics for other procedures or at outside institutions. Collected data included patient characteristics, anesthetic techniques, medications, and complications under anesthesia and in the subsequent 24 h. We performed descriptive statistics as appropriate.

resultsForty patients undergoing 64 procedures met inclusion criteria. Fifty-six procedures (87.5%) required general anesthesia or monitored anesthesia care (MAC) and eight (12.5%) did not. The general anesthesia/MAC group tended to be younger than nonanesthetized patients (median age 6 years [IQR 3.8; 9] vs. 14.5 years [IQR 12.8; 17.5]). In both groups, dysphagia (78.6% vs. 87.5%, respectively), seizures (62.5% vs. 25%), and recurrent vomiting (17.9% vs. 25%) were frequently reported preprocedure symptoms. Inhalational induction was common (N = 48; 85.7%), and two (3.6%) underwent rapid sequence induction. Serious complications were rare, with no aspiration or seizures. Hypotension resolving with ephedrine occurred in eight cases (14.3%). One patient each (1.8%) experienced postprocedure emergence agitation or vomiting. Fifty-three (94.6%) were ambulatory procedures. No inpatients required escalation in acuity of care.

conclusionsIn this single-center study, patients with Alexander disease did not experience frequent or irreversible complications while undergoing general anesthesia/MAC. Co-morbid symptoms were not increased postanesthesia. Some patients may not require anesthesia to complete short procedures.

Indexed as

Alexander DiseaseMagnetic Resonance ImagingSpinal PunctureAdolescentAnesthesiaAnesthesia, GeneralChildChild, PreschoolCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleProspective StudiesRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAlexander diseasegeneral anesthesiapediatric anesthesiawhite matter diseases

Identifiers

PMID38818870
PMCPMC11223980

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.