Perioperative GDNF as a Predictive Factor for Postoperative Delirium and Adverse Neurological Outcomes in Pediatric Surgery

Official title

Perioperative GDNF as a Predictive Factor for Postoperative Delirium and Adverse Neurological Outcomes in Pediatric Surgery:a Single-center, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study

Overview

To observe the dynamic changes in serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α), Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), and Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) during the perioperative period in pediatric patients undergoing Scheduled Laparoscopic Hernia Repair surgery, and to investigate their relationship with the occurrence of postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD),and to compare the different influence between propofol and sevoflurane . The aim is to provide insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these complications and to identify potential biomarkers for risk stratification.

Detailed description

Clarify the Correlation Between Perioperative Changes in Inflammatory Factors, BDNF, and GDNF Levels and Postoperative delirium (POD) Blood and urine samples were collected from pediatric patients at three time points: 5 minutes before anesthesia induction (T0), 1 hour after surgery began (T1), and on the first postoperative day (T2). Serum levels of inflammatory factors (such as IL-6 and TNF-α) as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were measured. The Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) was used to assess the children within 5-10 minutes after awakening from anesthesia. The RASS score ranges from +4 (combative agitation) to -5 (coma), comprising 10 levels, with higher scores indicating more agitated states and lower scores indicating deeper sedation. A score ≥+1 was defined as agitation. By comparing changes in inflammatory factors and neurotrophic factor levels across different time points, the association with the occurrence of postoperative agitation was analyzed.

Clarify the Correlation Between Perioperative Changes in Inflammatory Factors, BDNF, and GDNF Levels and Learning and Memory Abilities at Age 5 For the same cohort of children, based on blood and urine samples collected at the aforementioned time points (T0, T1, T2), concentrations of inflammatory factors (such as IL-6 and TNF-α), BDNF, and GDNF were measured. When the children reached 5 years of age, standardized neurocognitive assessment tools (such as the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-IV \[WPPSI-IV\] or age-appropriate memory and learning function tests) were used to evaluate their learning and memory abilities. Statistical analysis was performed to explore the potential correlation between the dynamic changes in the aforementioned biomarkers during the perioperative period and cognitive function scores at age 5.

Interventions

• Drug Sevoflurane group
  Patients fasted for 6 hours and abstained from clear fluids for 3 hours preoperatively. Upon entering the operating room, oxygen was administered via an appropriately sized face mask at a flow rate of 6-8 L/min. Anesthesia was induced by sequential intravenous injection of remimazolam, sufentanil, and rocuronium. A laryngeal mask was inserted after the disappearance of the eyelash reflex. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane (Inhalation Sevoflurane, Brand: Kaiteli, Specification: 120 mL, A
• Drug Propofol group
  Preoperative preparation was identical to that of the Sevoflurane Group. Anesthesia induction was performed using the same sequence of intravenous injections of remimazolam, sufentanil, and rocuronium, followed by laryngeal mask insertion after the disappearance of the eyelash reflex. Anesthesia was maintained with remifentanil combined with continuous intravenous infusion of propofol at a maintenance dose of 0.5 mg/(kg·h). The infusion rate was dynamically adjusted based on intraoperative vital

Primary outcome measures

• Correlation between Perioperative Inflammatory Factors and Neurotrophic Factor Levels with Postoperative Delirium [Time frame: Preoperative to postoperative day 1]
• Correlation between Perioperative Inflammatory Factors and Neurotrophic Factor Levels with Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 5 Years of Age [Time frame: Preoperative until the child reaches 5 years of age]

Secondary outcome measures (3)

• Correlation between Surgical Type on the Expression of Inflammatory Factors with Neurotrophic Factors [Time frame: Intraoperative to postoperative day 1]
• Correlation between Surgical Duration on the Expression of Inflammatory Factors with Neurotrophic Factors [Time frame: Intraoperative to postoperative day 1]
• Collection between Anesthetic Drugs on the Expression of Inflammatory Factors with Neurotrophic Factors [Time frame: Intraoperative to postoperative day 1]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• (1) Aged 1-3 years; (2) American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification I-II; (3) Body Mass Index (BMI) 18-35 kg/m²; (4) Agreement to participate in the study and signed informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• (1) Surgical duration exceeding 4 hours; (2) Patients with language or hearing impairments hindering effective communication; (3) Patients with postoperative infections or perioperative cardiopulmonary complications; (4) Patients with preoperative psychiatric disorders.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Double blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07192549 · Hui Wang-2025.9

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗