Görges M, et al. - In a pediatric population undergoing elective surgery with total IV anesthesia, researchers determined how myocardial repolarization and transmural dispersion were influenced by the administration of dexmedetomidine (a highly selective α₂-adrenergic agonist) in 3 different doses. Participants were 64 American Society of Anesthesiologists I–II children 3–10 years of age. Post-anesthesia induction, the participants were randomized to receive dexmedetomidine 0.25 µg/kg, 0.5 µg/kg, 0.75 µg/kg, or 0 µg/kg (control), as a bolus delivered over 60 seconds. The record of pre- and postintervention 12-lead electrocardiograms were analyzed. None of the dexmedetomidine bolus doses used could influence Tp-e (the interval between the peak and the end of the electrocardiogram T wave; transmural dispersion), and shortening of corrected QT intervals with dexmedetomidine 0.5 and 0.75 µg/kg doses was seen when measured at 1 minute following dexmedetomidine bolus injection during total IV anesthesia. In this study, no proof for an increased risk of torsades de pointes in this context was generated.