Association of Postnatal Opioid Exposure and 2-Year Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Infants Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Opioids are commonly used to provide analgesia during and after congenital heart surgery. The effects of exposure to opioids on neurodevelopment in neonates and infants are not well understood.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the associations between cumulative opioid exposure (measured in morphine mg equivalent) over the first year of life and 2-year neurodevelopmental outcomes (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third/Fourth Edition [Bayley-III/IV] cognitive, language, and motor scores).