Dexmedetomidine Continuous Infusion to Maintain Sedation in Severely Agitated Adolescents in the Emergency Department: A Case Series Report

Patient Information

This case series involves 20 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (median age 15 years) who presented with severe agitation in a tertiary emergency department over a 16-month period. All patients were identified as needing urgent sedation to ensure safety and facilitate psychiatric evaluation. Agitation was severe enough to warrant pharmacological intervention, and these patients were awaiting placement in psychiatric care units or further disposition. Demographic data, baseline mental health history, and presenting complaints were collected retrospectively to better understand the clinical context, although detailed individual histories are not available for all patients due to retrospective design.

Diagnosis