Table 3.

Summary of case reports of dexmedetomidine in newborn infants

Reference setting	Case description	outcomes Notes
Finkel 2007 USA31	2 days old, 3 kg female Repair of bladder exstrophy Received dexmedetomidine infusion	Hypothermia and bradycardia—at 0.4 μg/kg/hour dose reduced and maintained on 0.2 μg/kg/hour without further adverse events
O’Mara 2009 USA16	24 weeks GA, 9 days old infant on high frequency oscillatory ventilation. Was on fentanyl and lorazepam Started at 0.5 μg/kg over 10 min followed by 0.25 μg/kg/hour increased by 0.05–0.1 μg/kg/hour every 12 hours if needed. Max rate of 0.7 μg/kg/hour for 19 days.	Calmed and remained sedated Allowed weaning of ventilation and extubation
Kubota 2012 Japan44	Term infant—ventilated	EEG confirmed seizures, stopped 12 hours after discontinuation of dexmedetomidine infusion without any antiepileptic medication Normal development

EEG, electroencephalogram; GA, gestational age; HIE, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy; NICHD, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.