Dexmedetomidine in anesthesia of children submitted to videolaparoscopic appendectomy: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled study.

Objectives: To evaluate the hemodynamic responses to nociceptive stimuli in children submitted to videolaparoscopic appendectomy under balanced anesthesia with isoflurane and dexmedetomidine.

Methods: Randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study involving 26 children submitted to videolaparoscopic appendectomy carried out at Hospital São Lucas (PUCRS) between May 2004 and February 2005. Patients were assigned to two groups: (a) Dexmedetomidine group (n=13): infusion of 1 microg/kg over 10 minutes and maintenance dose of 0.