Use of dexmedetomidine in patients with trisomy 21 after cardiac surgery.

Children with trisomy 21 have a high incidence of congenital heart disease that frequently requires surgical repair. These patients often require multiple and higher dosage sedatives during the postoperative period. Dexmedetomidine is an alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist that has sedative, analgesic, and anxiolytic properties. We report the successful use of dexmedetomidine in patients with trisomy 21 following surgical repair of congenital heart disease.