Intranasal Dexmedetomidine as Sedative for Medical Imaging in Young Children: A Systematic Review to Provide a Roadmap for an Evidence-Guided Clinical Protocol.

There is an increasing need for effective anxiety and pain reduction during medical imaging procedures in children, addressed by non-pharmacological or pharmacological approaches. Dexmedetomidine is a fairly recently marketed, selective α2-adrenergic agonist that can be administered intranasally. To develop an evidence-guided clinical protocol, we investigated the (side) effects, preconditions and safety aspects following intranasal dexmedetomidine administration in children (1 month-5 years) for procedural sedation during medical imaging.