Effect of Dexmedetomidine of Gastrointestinal Motility
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2022-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Anorectal manometry requires that the patient be able to respond to command and not receive
any medications which could alter muscle tone or motility. In the pediatric population,
anorectal manometry can be psychologically challenging to parents and their child, as it is
traditionally performed without adjuvant sedation or anesthesia. Sedatives and anesthesia can
alter motility and smooth muscle activity, as well as render it difficult or impossible for
the child to follow commands required of the study. Patient or parent non-compliance,
inability to follow commands or to tolerate the procedure often renders the study invalid or
impossible to complete. Dexmedetomidine is a sedative who's effect on anorectal musculature
has not been studied nor determined. It would be important to determine whether it spares
smooth muscle function, as it would provide a viable option to provide sedation to children
while still preserving their ability to respond to command. The primary objective of this
study is to examine the effects of dexmedetomidine on gastrointestinal smooth muscle by
observing changes in anorectal manometry before and after dexmedetomdine administration.