Inclusion Criteria:

3.1.1 - Women undergoing unilateral mastectomy for malignancy at MD Anderson Cancer
Center.

3.1.2 - Patients 18 years of age and older. There will be no upper age restriction.

3.1.3 - Patients must sign a study-specific consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

3.2.1 - ASA 4 3.2.2 - Contraindication to the use of dexmedetomidine. 3.2.2.1.
Decompensated congestive heart failure. 3.2.2.2. Second and third degree heart block.
3.2.2.2. Known allergy to dexmedetomidine or any of the medications used in the study
3.2.3 - Patients taking clonidine for treatment of arterial hypertension. 3.2.4 - Patients
that are pregnant. 3.2.5 - Patients taking opioids at the time of surgery. 3.2.6 -
Patients having plastic surgical reconstruction. 3.2.7 - Recent chemotherapy (< 4 weeks).
3.2.8 - Active autoimmune or immunological disease including but not limited to systemic
lupus erythematous, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's disease 3.2.9 - Patient refusal to
participate in the study.