Population Pharmacokinetics of Dexmedetomidine in Infants After Open Heart Surgery

Dexmedetomidine clearance increased with weight, age, and single-ventricle physiology, whereas total bypass time was associated with a trend toward decreasing clearance, and central volume of distribution increased as a function of total bypass time. The dependence of clearance on body weight supports current practice of weight-based dexmedetomidine dosing, whereas the clinical impact of the remaining covariate effects requires further investigation. Initial loading doses in the range of 0.35 to 1 microg/kg over 10 minutes and CIVI of 0.25 to 0.75 microg/kg/h were well tolerated in this infant population.