DOSE Trial of Opioid Sparing Effect

Phase 1b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose escalation trial of sedation regimens in critically ill children. Testing the hypothesis of mean daily fentanyl dose through day 7 of mechanical ventilation will be reduced by ≥25% by the addition of dexmedetomidine to fentanyl therapy. This trial will involve multiple clinical sites. Randomization will occur by individual and investigators will be blinded to study/treatment arm. The statistical analysis will account for center effects, participant characteristics (including post-surgical state), and changes over time to minimize bias. In addition, PIs and study coordinators will undergo training to standardize assessment procedures. The study will randomize participants to receive placebo (fentanyl standard of care) titrated to sedation+saline placebo (bolus+infusion) or one of the following 3 Dexmedetomidine treatment arms in a sequential cohort fashion: Cohort 1: Fentanyl SOC titrated to sedation + Dexmedetomidine (0.5mcg/kg bolus load + 0.2 mcg/kg/hr infusion); Cohort 2: Fentanyl SOC titrated to sedation + Dexmedetomidine (0.5mcg/kg bolus load + 0.5mcg/kg/hr infusion); and, Cohort 3: Fentanyl SOC titrated to sedation + Dexmedetomidine (0.5mcg/kg bolus load + 0.7mcg/kg/hr infusion). An interim analysis is planned for this trial.