A Pilot Study to Assess the Amnesic Properties of Dexmedetomidine in Pediatric Patients

A Pilot Study to Assess the Amnesic Properties of Dexmedetomidine in Pediatric Patients

The goal of this study is to determine the effects of dexmedetomidine on memory and recall of children who are receiving dexmedetomidine sedation administered for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. Dexmedetomidine is currently the standard drug for sedation for diagnostic (MRI, computerized tomography (CT) and Nuclear Medicine) radiological studies at Boston Children's Hospital (BCH). The effect of dexmedetomidine on memory and recall in children has not been studied.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The patient must be between 4 and 14 yrs of age and be undergoing a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure with or without sedation
• The patient must be able to comprehend and perform the task (naming pictures)
• The patient must have a minimum weight of 8 kg

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergy to Dexmedetomidine (for those patients requiring sedation)
• Procedure of short duration (< 15 min)
• Pregnancy
• Recent use (within 5 half-lives) of centrally acting medications that could affect concentration (e.g. diphenhydramine)