A phase I, two-center study of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dexmedetomidine in children.

Background: To investigate dexmedetomidine in children, the authors performed an open-label study of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dexmedetomidine.

Methods: Thirty-six children were assigned to three groups; 24 received dexmedetomidine and 12 received no drug. Three doses of dexmedetomidine, 2, 4, and 6 microg x kg x h, were infused for 10 min.

The dilemma of immediate preoperative hypertension: to treat and operate, or to postpone surgery?

Study Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and complications of immediate preoperative reduction of arterial blood pressure (BP) in patients with well-controlled hypertension but with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between 110 and 130 mmHg on arrival at the operating room (OR).

Design: Prospective, randomized, large-sample study.

Setting: University-affiliated, 550-bed community hospital.

Association between hypophosphatemia and cardiac arrhythmias in the early stages of sepsis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a possible association between serum phosphate levels and the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in the early stages of sepsis. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, controlled study in the General Intensive Care Unit (GICU) of a university hospital. Sixteen patients with sepsis, but without any previous cardiac disease, were studied during their first 24 h in the GICU.