Question

Dexmedetomidine is used for providing sedation for procedures

A) Only in cardiac cases
B) When the surgeon or endoscopist wants the patient deeply sedated
C) For procedures that are not painful, but amnesia is very important
D) Where preservation of respiratory function is important
E) Only in the ICU

Answer 1

Dexmedetomidine is an intravenous anesthetic used for sedation in medical procedures where preservation of respiratory function is important. It can be used in a variety of settings, not just cardiac cases or the ICU, and it allows for sedation without deep unconsciousness.

Step-by-step explanation:

Dexmedetomidine is an intravenous anesthetic agent mainly used for sedation during medical procedures. It falls into the category of anesthetics that can be used to induce a state of reduced anxiety and cause sedation. Unlike some other anesthetics, dexmedetomidine has the advantage of providing sedation without significantly affecting respiratory function, making it suitable for procedures where it's important to preserve the patient's ability to breathe independently. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is D) Where preservation of respiratory function is important. This property of dexmedetomidine means it is not necessarily restricted to use in cardiac cases, as implied by option A. Option B is incorrect because dexmedetomidine typically does not induce deep sedation like other general anesthetics. Option C highlights the amnesic effect which is important but not the distinct feature of dexmedetomidine. Lastly, the use of dexmedetomidine is not limited to only intensive care units (ICU) as per option E; it can be used in various settings where sedation with preserved respiratory function is desired.