Dexmedetomidine for the Difficult to Sedate PICU Patient: A Case Series - Abstract
Background: In the PICU many patients require prolonged sedation with opioids and benzodiazepines. Tolerance to those agents is often problematic. Many of these patients also require adjunct paralysis. Dexmedetomidine is a new sedative agent that may prove useful for these patients.
Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of Dexmedetomidine on our difficult to sedate PICU patients.
Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review on patients that had received Dexmedetomidine in our PICU. We evaluated the effects of sedative dosing for those patients and any changes in doses that occured. Side effects were also evaluated.
Results: We found a decreased sedative dose requirement, and less use of muscle relaxants. Also noted was a decreased methadone requirement in those patients that received Dexmedetomidine. Side effects were minimal.
Conclusion: The use of dexmedetomidine seemed to be helpful in managing patients in our PICU that were difficult to sedate. Further analysis of Dexmedetomidine use in other patients, as well as cost analysis would be useful.