title: Intranasal dexmedetomidine: an effective sedative agent for electroencephalogram and auditory brain response testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dexmedetomidine is an α2 agonist with sedative, anxiolytic, and analgesic properties. The intranasal (IN) route avoids the pain of intravenous (i.v.) catheter placement but limited literature exists on the use of IN dexmedetomidine. This study examines the effectiveness and safety of IN dexmedetomidine for sedation of patients undergoing electroencephalogram (EEG) and auditory brain response (ABR) testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a review of all outpatients sedated with IN dexmedetomidine for EEG or ABR between October 1, 2012 and October 1, 2014. An initial dose of 2.5-3 μg · kg(-1) IN dexmedetomidine was given with a repeat dose of 1-1.5 μg · kg(-1) IN if needed 30 min later. Prospectively entered patient information was extracted from a quality assurance database and additional information gathered via retrospective chart review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intranasal dexmedetomidine was used in 169 patients (EEG = 117, ABR = 52). First-dose success rates were 90.4% for ABR and 87.2% for EEG. Total success rates (with one or two doses of IN dexmedetomidine) were 100% for ABR and 99.1% for EEG. The median time to onset of sleep was 25 min (IQR, 20-32 min). The median duration of sedation was 107 min (IQR, 90-131 min). Adverse events included: 18 patients (10.7%) with hypotension which resolved without intervention, six patients with oxygen desaturation <90%, two of whom received supplemental oxygen, and one patient with an underlying upper airway abnormality who was treated with continuous positive airway pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IN dexmedetomidine is an effective and noninvasive method of sedating children for EEG and ABR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Baier
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kimm
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Velazquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Schroeder
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020927:Dexmedetomidine
keywords: auditory brain stem response; dexmedetomidine; electroencephalography; intranasal drug administration; moderate sedation; pediatrics