A Safety and Efficacy Study of Dexmedetomidine in Patients Requiring Sedation for Elective Awake Fiberoptic Intubation

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adult (≥18 years of age); 2. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score I - IV inclusive; 3. Male or female. If female, subject is non-lactating and is either: 1. Not of childbearing potential, defined as post-menopausal for at least 1 year or surgically sterile due to bilateral tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy. 2. Of childbearing potential but is not pregnant at time of baseline and is practicing one of the following methods of birth control: oral or parenteral contraceptives, double-barrier method, vasectomized partner, or abstinence from sexual intercourse. 4. Requiring awake fiberoptic (oral or nasal) intubation because of anticipated difficult airway. Subjects must meet at least one of the criteria listed below: Criteria for Assessing Difficult Airways i. History of difficult intubation ii. Anticipated difficult airway 1. Prominent protruding teeth 2. Small mouth opening 3. Narrow mandible 4. Micrognathia 5. Macroglossia 6. Short, muscular neck 7. Very long neck 8. Limited neck extension 9. Congenital airway anomalies 10. Obesity 11. Known airway pathology 12. Known airway malignancy 13. Upper airway obstruction iii. Trauma 1. Face 2. Upper airway 3. Cervical spine iv. Anticipated difficult mask ventilation v. Severe risk of aspiration vi. Respiratory failure vii. Severe hemodynamic instability 5. Subject (or subject's legally authorized representative) must voluntarily sign and date the informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Previous exposure to any experimental drug within 30 days prior to study drug administration; 2. Central nervous system (CNS) disease with an anticipated increased intracranial pressure or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak; 3. Uncontrolled seizure disorder and/or known psychiatric illness that could confound a normal response to sedative treatment; 4. Presence of acute alcohol intoxication; 5. Current (within 14 days of study entry) treatment with an α2-agonist or antagonist; 6. Subject for whom benzodiazepines, dexmedetomidine or other α2-agonists are contraindicated; 7. Subject received an IV or oral (PO) opioid within one hour or intramuscularly within four hours of the start of study drug administration; 8. Subject has acute unstable angina, laboratory confirmed acute myocardial infarction within the past 6 weeks, heart rate \<50 bpm, systolic blood pressure (SBP) \<90 mmHg, or complete heart block unless they have a pacemaker. 9. Subject has elevated serum glutamic pyruvate aminotransferase/alanine transaminase (SGPT/ALT) and/or Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase/ aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT/AST) values of ≥2 times the upper limit of normal (ULN). 10. Subject has any other condition or factor which, in the Investigator's opinion, might increase the risk to the subject.