Dexmedetomidine-related polyuria in a pediatric patient.

Polyuria related to pharmacologic α2-adrenoreceptor agonism has been well described in vitro and in animal models and is thought to be the result of functional antagonism of arginine vasopressin. Despite its widespread use as a sedative and anesthetic adjunct, very few reports of dexmedetomidine-related polyuria in humans exist in the literature. We present the first description of a pediatric patient manifesting polyuria and hypernatremia in association with dexmedetomidine infusion for posterior spinal fusion.