title: Whither dexmedetomidine?
abstract: Dexmedetomidine has established a firm position in the armamentarium of anesthesia pharmacology. However, it is still a relatively new drug and its application is based on early evidence that is intriguing but far from conclusive. Based on experience with previous cure-alls, anesthesia clinicians and researchers must insist on more information and formulate appropriate science that will allow us to truly understand the role of this dexmedetomidine in our specialty—as wonder drug or also-ran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cravero
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. briana@adhb.govt.nz.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anaesthesia and Paediatric Intensive Care, Bristol Royal Children's Hospital, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020927:Dexmedetomidine