Görges M, et al. - Researchers investigated how blood glucose and serum potassium levels could be influenced by 3 different doses of dexmedetomidine administered to children undergoing elective surgery in a randomized controlled trial. Either dexmedetomidine 0.25 µg/kg, dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg/kg, dexmedetomidine 0.75 µg/kg, or 0 µg/kg (control) was administered over 60 seconds as a bolus after induction of anesthesia in 64 American Society of Anesthesiologists I–II children, using randomization. Prior to and at 15 and 30 minutes after study drug administration, venous blood samples were analyzed to determine the alterations in plasma glucose and serum potassium levels. Overall 49 children completed the study. Following anesthesia induction in this pediatric population, small rises in glucose and reductions in potassium were observed. The dose of dexmedetomidine administered was a decisive factor for the rise in glucose at 15 minutes. Compared with baseline, reduction in potassium levels was observed, but no appreciable influence of dexmedetomidine was revealed at either time (at 15 and at 30 minutes).