• Ian Smith.
• University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK. damsmith@btinternet.com
• Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2011 Dec 1;24(6):644-8.

Purpose Of ReviewAlpha-2-agonists have long been known to have anaesthetic-sparing, sedative and analgesic properties which are desirable in day case anaesthesia. Their routine use was hampered by a high incidence of undesirable effects, however. In recent years, there have been many attempts to define a role for these unique agents in which their benefits would outweigh their apparent disadvantages.Recent FindingsMany recent studies have confirmed the usefulness of alpha-2-agonists in providing sedation and analgesia, although the results have been far from consistent. Some, but by no means all studies have shown advantages over alternative agents, but concerns also remain over acute and possible long-term adverse effects.SummaryAlpha-2-agonists still have no clearly defined routine role in day surgery. Their most promising application is in limiting recovery agitation in children, but even here, there remain concerns about their routine use.

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