The effects of Dexmedetomidine and butorphanol sedation on skin reactivity during intradermal testing in healthy dogs were evaluated. The effects of Dexmedetomidine and butorphanol were compared to medetomidine, a sedative agent having scientific proof of not interfering with skin test reactivity, in a randomised, double blind, cross over study performed on 8 adult dogs. The dogs were sedated with medetomidine (Domitor vet.®, 0,01 ml kg-1) intravenously, or Dexmedetomidine and butorphanol intramuscularly (Dexdomitor vet.®, 0,01 ml kg-1; Dolorex vet., 0,01 ml kg-1) after which they received intradermal injections of positive control solutions (histamine 0,1 mg ml-1, 0,05 mg ml-1, 0,025 mg ml-1), a negative control solution (0,9 % NaCl) and allergen extract (Dermatophagoides farinae, Cladosporium and Artemisia vulgaris). After a wash out period the trial was repeated with a reversed sedation protocol.Skin reactivity (wheal size, induration and erythema) and quality of sedation (immobilization, response to stimuli and injections as well as over all working conditions) were evaluated. The combination of Dexmedetomidine and butorphanol provided reliable, good sedation and analgesia without adverse effects.

Intensivvårdspatienter är i behov av sedering för att uthärda smärtsamma upplevelser såsom endotrakealtub och respiratorbehandling. Ytlig sedering blir allt vanligare inom intensivvården då det visat sig ha patientnytta. Syftet med undersökningen var att beskriva intensivvårdssjuksköterskors erfarenheter av att vårda patienter ytligt sederade med Dexmedetomidine (Dexdor), som är ett nyare läkemedel för sedering inom intensivvården. Studien har kvalitativ design. Åtta intensivvårdssjuksköterskor deltog och datainsamling genomfördes med semistrukturerade intervjuer.