10 obese patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic surgery were given dexmedetomidine dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg.kg-1 iv over 10 minutes and then dexmedetomidine 0.25 mcg.kg-1.h-1 for approximate 2 h (range 58-320 min). Blood samples were taken at 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 min after beginning dexmedetomidine administration, and at 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 240 and 360 min after stopping infusion.

10 obese patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic surgery were given dexmedetomidine dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg.kg-1 iv over 10 minutes and then dexmedetomidine 0.5 mcg.kg-1.h-1 for approximate 2 h (range 58-320 min). Blood samples were taken at 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 min after beginning dexmedetomidine administration, and at 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 240 and 360 min after stopping infusion.

10 non-obese patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic surgery were given dexmedetomidine dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg.kg-1 iv over 10 minutes and then dexmedetomidine 0.25 mcg.kg-1.h-1 for approximate 2 h (range 58-320 min). Blood samples were taken at 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 min after beginning dexmedetomidine administration, and at 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 240 and 360 min after stopping infusion.

10 non-obese patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic surgery were given dexmedetomidine dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg.kg-1 iv over 10 minutes and then dexmedetomidine 0.5 mcg.kg-1.h-1 for approximate 2 h (range 58-320 min). Blood samples were taken at 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 min after beginning dexmedetomidine administration, and at 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 240 and 360 min after stopping infusion.

Dexmedetomidine administered intravenously

A two compartment distribution model with first order elimination was used to describe dexmedetomidine serum concentration. Population parameter estimates were obtained using non-linear mixed effects models