Use of intraoperative corticosteroids in pediatric tonsillectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of a single dose of dexamethasone sodium phosphate on postoperative morbidity in children undergoing tonsillectomy.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-control clinical trial.


METHODS
Academic, tertiary care children's hospital.


METHODS
Sixty-nine children (35 boys, 34 girls), aged 3 to 18 years, undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy.


METHODS
Patients were randomized to receive a single dose of intravenous dexamethasone or saline.


METHODS
Pain scores, determined by a Faces Scale, were obtained at 4-hour intervals during the first postoperative day and daily for 7 days thereafter. Total use of an analgesic; type of diet; level of activity; presence of halitosis, nausea, emesis, or fever; and incidence of postoperative bleeding were also compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
The two groups of children were similar in age, gender, diagnosis, and surgical time. Pain scores in the postoperative period were identical while the patients were in the hospital and for the first 7 days after discharge. No statistically significant differences were noted in pain scores, nausea, emesis, halitosis, analgesic medications required, diet, or activity levels between the two groups of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
A single intraoperative dose of dexamethasone did not appreciably affect postoperative morbidity in children undergoing tonsillectomy.
Ohlms
L A
LA
Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass., USA.
Wilder
R T
RT
Weston
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D006472:Oral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003907:Dexamethasone