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Chapter 8
SUMMARY
Dexmedetomidine is a selective α
2
-agonist, which since June 2011 has been approved for
ICU sedation of adult patients in the Netherlands. Dexmedetomidine provides sedation,
analgesia, and anxiolysis. Patients are sedated, but remain arousable to verbal stimulation.
Dexmedetomidine is with its half-life of 2 hours suitable for perioperative use and even
procedural sedation. In contrast to other sedatives, dexmedetomidine shows less respiratory
depression. It increases the activity of opiates, benzodiazepines and other sedatives, and
could therefore impair side effects. Recent studies have shown that dexmedetomidine
even has neuroprotective properties. Dexmedetomidine in children is used off-label but
with good results.