ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY AND ANXIETY DISORDER IN A CHILD WITH REPEATED EXPOSURE TO GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Background:Repeated and prolonged exposure to general an esthesiainearly childhood has increasingly been linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes like Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) and Anxiety. Case presentation:We report the case of an 8-year-old boy who presented with attention difficulties,executive dysfunction, and anxiety symptoms. His medical history was notable for fibular hemimelia,necessitating multiple prolonged surgeries under general anesthesia during critical periods of brain development. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with ADHD and comorbid anxiety, which responded well to methylphenidate and methylfolate. Methods:A qualitative investigation of English language literature published after the year 2000 was performed in PubMed and Google Scholar.Keywords included ADHD,anxiety disorders,general anesthesia, andneurodevelopmental outcomes.The review encompassed various study designs,including case reports,large cohort studies, and meta-analyses. Conclusion:This case uniquely demonstrates the concurrent emergence of ADHD and anxiety, potentially linked to repeated general anesthesia exposure. It highlights the importance of long-term neuropsychiatric monitoring in children undergoing early and recurrent surgeries, and the need for further research into the sequelae of pediatric anesthesia.