Pharmacokinetic Study of Dexmedetomidine After Intra-Nasal and Buccal Dosing in Children

Inclusion Criteria: * Children aged 6 - 48 months (inclusive) scheduled to receive anesthesia for elective cardiac surgery * The subject must be a candidate to receive Dex as determined by one of the study cardiac anesthesiologists * The attending cardiac anesthesiologists for the case and the Chief of Anesthesia Cardiac Anesthesia will concur with or veto this decision * The subjects legally authorized representative has given written informed consent to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: * Post-natal age less than 6 months * The subject is allergic to or has had a contraindication to Dex * Severely depressed ventricular function on preoperative echocardiogram * The subject has a high risk of cardiac conduction system disease in the judgement of the attending anesthesiologist or cardiologist * The subject has a hemodynamically significant aortic coarctation or other left heart outflow obstruction * The subject has received digoxin, beta-adrenergic antagonist, or calcium channel antagonist on the day of surgery * The subject has received Dex within 1 week of the study date * Patients who are to receive intranasal Dex are excluded if they have nasal/respiratory symptoms, which in the opinion of the study anesthesiologist, may affect intranasal drug absorption