title: The use of dexmedetomidine in anesthesia and intensive care: a review.
abstract: The alpha-2 agonist dexmedetomidine is being increasingly used for sedation and as an adjunctive agent during general and regional anesthesia. It is used in a number of procedures and clinical settings including neuroanesthesia, vascular surgery, gastrointestinal endoscopy, fiberoptic intubation, and pediatric anesthesia. The drug is also considered a nearly ideal sedative agent in the intensive care setting. However, the drug frequently produces hypotension and bradycardia, and also decreases cerebral blood flow without concomitantly decreasing the cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen. This review discusses recent advances in the use of dexmedetomidine in anesthesia and intensive care settings, as well as discuss potential problems with its use.
authors: Departments of General Anesthesia and Outcomes Research, The Cleveland Clinic, OH 44195, USA. FARAGE@ccf.org
authors: Ehab
authors: E
authors: Farag
authors: Maged
authors: M
authors: Argalious
authors: Alaa
authors: A
authors: Abd-Elsayed
authors: Zeyd
authors: Z
authors: Ebrahim
authors: D John
authors: DJ
authors: Doyle
mesh_terms: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D016638:Critical Illness; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D020927:Dexmedetomidine