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BACKGROUND:

Atomized intranasal dexmedetomidine is an attractive option when sedation is required for pediatric patients as either premedication or the sole agent for noninvasive, nonpainful procedures. While intranasal dexmedetomidine is used frequently in this population, it is still unclear what dose and time of administration relative to the procedure will result in the optimal effect. Knowledge regarding the maximum concentration (C max) and time to reach maximum concentration (T max) of intranasally administered dexmedetomidine is the first step toward this. The risk of hemodynamic instability caused by increasing doses of dexmedetomidine necessitates a greater understanding of the pharmacokinetics in children.

METHODS:

Sixteen pediatric patients 2 to 6 years of age undergoing elective cardiac catheterization received 2 or 4 μg/kg dexmedetomidine intranasally. Plasma concentrations were …