For the time being, the few studies and case reports suggest that this drug might have an adequate profile as an adjunct in analgesia for labor when other options have failed, although this is still an off-label application. For this reason, patients need to be thoroughly informed about the potential side effects before receiving this drug. 2. Hall JE, Uhrich TD, Barney JA, et al. Sedative, amnestic, and analgesic properties of small-dose dexmedetomidine infusions. Anesth Analg. 2000;90:699-705. 4. Ala-Kokko TI, Pienimáki P, Lampela E, et al. Transfer of clonidine and dexmedetomidine across the isolated perfused human placenta. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1997;41:313-9. 5. Karaman S, Evren V, Firat V, et al. The effects of dexmedetomidine on spontaneous contractions of isolated gravid rat myometrium. Adv Ther. 2006;23:238-43. 6. Sia AT, Kwek K, Yeo GS. The in vitro effects of clonidine and dexmedetomidine on human myometrium. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2005;14:104-7. 7. Palanisamy A, Klickovich RJ, Ramsay M, et al. Intravenous dexmedetomidine as an adjunct for labor analgesia and cesarean delivery anaesthesia in a parturient with a tethered spinal cord. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2009;18:258-61. 8. Abu-Halaweh SA, Al Oweidi AK, Abu-Malooh H, et al. Intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion for labour analgesia in patient with preeclampsia. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2009;26:86-7. 9. Souza KM, Anzoátegui LC, Pedroso WC, et al. Dexmedetomidine in general anesthesia for surgical treatment of cerebral aneurysm in pregnant patient with specific hypertensive disease of pregnancy. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2005;55:212-6. 10. Toyama H, Wagatsuma T, Ejima Y, et al. Cesarean section and primary pulmonary hypertension: the role of intravenous dexmedetomidine. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2009;18:262-7. 11. Tariq M, Cerny V, Elfaki I, et al. Effects of subchronic versus acute in utero exposure to dexmedetomidine on foetal developments in rats. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2008;103:180-5. 12. Laudenbach V, Mantz J, Lagercrantz H, et al. Effects of alfa-2 adrenoceptor agonists on perinatal excitotoxic brain injury. comparison of clonidine and dexmedetomidine. Anesthesiology. 2002;96:134-41.
Por el momento los pocos estudios y reportes de casos sugieren que este medicamento podría tener un adecuado perfil como coadyuvante en analgesia para el TP cuando otras opciones se hayan agotado, pero su aplicación continúa siendo off-label, por lo cual, antes de utilizar este medicamento la paciente debe recibir suficiente información sobre los posibles efectos secundarios.