We report our experience using 'dexmedetomidine' (Precedex, Hospira, Lake Forest, Illinois, USA) for urgent procedural sedation in the emergency department. Used in critical care and perioperative arenas through infusion, its use has not been reported for brief procedures in the emergency department using a bolus technique.Dexmedetomidine is a selective alpha-2-agonist used for short-term sedation in critically ill patients, as an anesthetic, and for pediatric sedation [1-3]. It exerts its primary action through presynaptic alpha-2-agonism resulting in decreased sympathetic nervous system activity, reduced norepinephrine levels, decreased heart rate and blood pressure, and profound analgesia and sedation [4].
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