The Bolus Dose of Dexmedetomidine (ED50) That Avoids Hemodynamic Compromise in Children

Dexmedetomidine is a sedative drug that has many benefits when given to children under anesthesia, such as improved pain relief and reduced agitation following their surgery. It is usually given as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes, to avoid the changes in heart rate and blood pressure that are occasionally seen when it is administered more quickly. However, this is often infeasible and usually inconvenient. The investigators aim to determine the dose of dexmedetomidine that can be given rapidly (over 5 seconds) without causing significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure. This will be the only study specific intervention.