Dexmedetomidine Continuous Infusion to Maintain Sedation in Severely Agitated Adolescents in the Emergency Department

The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine continuous infusion as a bridge therapy for severely agitated adolescents in the emergency department awaiting psychiatric treatment. In a retrospective study of 20 patients, they found that 45% required additional sedation despite the infusion, suggesting that while dexmedetomidine may be feasible for managing severe agitation, further research is needed to optimize its use in this population.