Growing animal and clinical data continue to point to general anaesthetics as being potentially detrimental to the very young brain. While we are trying to understand the mechanisms responsible for this worrisome phenomenon, we must consider the value of protective strategies that would enable use of currently available general anaesthetics while avoiding histopathological changes and long-lasting impairment in behavioural and cognitive development. Wali and colleagues¹ report that the gestational hormone progesterone is a promising ‘safening’ agent that ameliorates systemic inflammation caused by sevoflurane, a commonly used inhaled anaesthetic, while preventing development of cognitive impairment and an anxious phenotype.

越来越多的动物和临床数据继续表明全身麻醉剂可能对非常年轻的大脑有害。虽然我们试图了解导致这种令人担忧的现象的机制，但我们必须考虑保护策略的价值，该策略将能够使用目前可用的全身麻醉剂，同时避免组织病理学变化和行为和认知发育的长期损害。Wali 及其同事¹报告说，妊娠激素黄体酮是一种很有前途的“安全”剂，可以改善由七氟醚（一种常用的吸入麻醉剂）引起的全身炎症，同时防止认知障碍和焦虑表型的发展。