Does dexmedetomidine prevent
emergence delirium in children after sevoflurane-based general anesthesia?
Postoperative
emergence delirium was assessed using the paediatric anaesthesia
emergence delirium score (17).
However, there is a paucity of studies evaluating the effect of DEX on preoperative anxiety and
emergence delirium (ED) in dental restoration surgery [12,18].
Twersky and Philip (2008) and Voepel-Lewis, Malviya and Tait, (2003) agree that pain and
emergence delirium present similarly, therefore prevention and treatment are the same and include preemptive analgesics (non-opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs and opioids).
Dexmedetomidine is currently approved by US FDA only for the sedation of intubated and mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive care unit.30 However, it has been used for paediatrics sedation in cardiac catheterization,21 radiological procedures,31 dental procedures32 and mechanical ventilation for ICU patients.33 It has also been used to control withdrawal symptoms of opioids and benzodiazepines as well as for the prevention of
emergence delirium after general anaesthesia.
The Pediatric Anesthesia
Emergence Delirium Scale is validated and reliable.
Emergence delirium in adults in the post-anaesthesia care unit.