Dexmedetomidine for acute postoperative pain

Abstract

Acute pain can be defined as a normal physiological response to an adverse chemical, thermal or mechanical stimulus. It is generally associated with surgery, trauma or acute illness, but postoperative pain still remains the most common type of acute pain. Dexmedetomidine is a relatively new alpha-2 agonist and like its predecessor, clonidine, has proven to have antihypertensive effects, sedative and anxiolytic properties, and most recently, analgesic qualities.