Evaluating the safety and efficacy of rapid bolus-only dexmedetomidine for pediatric EEG sedation: a retrospective study

Dexmedetomidine is an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist known for its sedative and analgesic properties. It produces an EEG pattern resembling Stage II sleep without interfering with EEG interpretation, making it a preferred agent for pediatric sedation, particularly during EEG procedures. Traditionally administered as a bolus followed by continuous infusion, this approach can challenge workflow efficiency and staffing in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a rapid bolus-only dexmedetomidine protocol for pediatric EEG sedation. This retrospective study included pediatric patients aged 1–18 years undergoing EEG with sedation at the Hadassah Medical Center between 2015 and 2023. All patients received dexmedetomidine via intravenous bolus (1–2 mcg/kg), with additional doses (0.5–2 mcg/kg) as needed. No continuous infusion was used. Primary outcomes were sedation success rate, time to onset and recovery, and adverse events. A total of 345 patients were included. Sedation was successfully achieved in 99% of cases, with a median sedation onset of 5 min. The overall adverse event rate was 8.4%, with no sentinel events. Hypotension and hypoxia occurred in 1.7% of patients each. Patients with upper airway abnormalities were more likely to require additional doses (P = 0.001) and showed a trend toward increased adverse events (P = 0.095). Adverse event risk increased with higher total dexmedetomidine doses (≥ 3 mcg/kg, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Rapid bolus administration of dexmedetomidine without continuous infusion provides effective sedation for pediatric EEG, with a good safety profile, similar to other sedation protocols. This cost-effective approach offers significant advantages for settings with limited staffing or high patient turnover. (Table presented.)