title: Hypoglycemia associated with dexmedetomidine overdose in a child?
abstract: The case of an asymptomatic 20 month-old, 10.7-kg girl, scheduled for interventional cardiac catheterization to close a patent ductus arteriosus, who suffered significant hypoglycemia possibly related in part to an overdose of dexmedetomidine, is reported. An infusion of dexmedetomidine was started using a programmable syringe pump at the intended administration rate of one mcg/kg/hr, but was actually incorrectly programmed at the rate of one mcg/kg/min. The infusion continued for 36 minutes until a total of 380 mcg (36 mcg/kg) had been given, and was stopped when the error was discovered. A peripheral blood sugar level was found to be 26 mg/dL. The significant hypoglycemia likely was due to substrate deficiency, with a possible dexmedetomidine effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA. philip.bernard@uky.edu
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Carrie E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Makin
authors.forename: Heinrich A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Werner
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D062787:Drug Overdose; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008508:Medication Errors
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020927:Dexmedetomidine