Intranasal dexmedetomidine for sedation in children undergoing transthoracic echocardiography study--a prospective observational study.

Background: Intranasal dexmedetomidine has been used for sedation in children undergoing nonpainful procedures.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the success rate of intranasal dexmedetomidine sedation for children undergoing transthoracic echocardiography examination.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of 115 children under the age of 3 years undergoing echocardiography examination under sedation with intranasal dexmedetomidine at 3 mcg·kg(-1).

Results: Of the 115 children, 100 (87%) had satisfactory sedation with intranasal dexmedetomidine. The mean onset time was 16.7 ± 7 min (range 5-50 min). The mean wake up time was 44.3 ± 15.1 min (range 12-123 min). The wake up time was significantly correlated with duration of procedure with R = 0.540 (P < 0.001). Aside from one patient who required oxygen supplementation, all children in this investigation had an acceptable heart rate and blood pressure and required no medical intervention.

Conclusion: Sedation by intranasal dexmedetomidine at 3 mcg·kg(-1) is associated with acceptable success rate in children undergoing echocardiography with no adverse events in this cohort.