Pediatr Crit Care Me
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Dec 2024
Development and Preliminary Testing of the Withdrawal Assessment Tool-Alpha 2 Agonist: An Assessment Instrument for Monitoring Iatrogenic Withdrawal Symptoms in Children Receiving an Alpha-2 Agonist.
To develop and conduct preliminary testing of the Withdrawal Assessment Tool-Alpha 2 Agonist (WAT-A2A) to monitor dexmedetomidine and clonidine withdrawal symptoms in acutely ill children. ⋯ Acutely ill children receiving sedation with an A2A for more than 5 days may develop physiologic dependence, requiring gradual dosing reductions. While further psychometric testing is advised, the WAT-A2A provides an objective instrument to help clinicians quantify dexmedetomidine withdrawal symptoms in acutely ill children may facilitate A2A weaning and limit unnecessary variation in practice.