Using Dexmedetomidine Prior to Intubation in Neonates

Neonatal intubations are performed routinely in a NICU. Most intubations are still performed without the administration of medications (awake intubations). Some of the reasons are unavailability of a single good medication, the ease of administration, the physicians comfort level, side effects of medications including apnea, bradycardia, hypotension. Some units use a cocktail of different medications, each with their own side effects We are proposing to study the effects of a single medication, dexmedetomidine (precedex) for the purpose of sedation prior to intubation in neonates. This study will compare the efficacy of a single dose of dexmedetomidine to controls.