title: Effect of i.v. dexamethasone on postoperative dizziness, nausea and pain during canal wall-up mastoidectomy.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylactic i.v. administration of 10 mg of dexamethasone reduced postoperative dizziness and nausea without adverse effects in patients undergoing canal wall-up mastoidectomy, but did not reduce postoperative pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of dexamethasone in reducing postoperative dizziness, nausea and pain in patients undergoing canal wall-up mastoidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was performed between January 2002 and December 2004. A total of 162 patients (66 males, 96 females) scheduled for canal wall-up mastoidectomy were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either i.v. dexamethasone (10 mg in 2 ml) or i.v. placebo (2 ml of normal saline) during mastoidectomy. A standard general anesthetic technique was employed throughout the surgical procedure. At 3, 6 and 24 h after surgery, patients completed questionnaires regarding postoperative dizziness, nausea and pain, with their responses being given on a visual analog scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no postoperative complications in either group. Compared to the placebo group, the dexamethasone group showed reduced postoperative dizziness and reduced nausea (p<0.05 for both) at 24 h postoperatively. Compared to the placebo group, dexamethasone had no effect on postoperative pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. meniere@amc.seoul.kr
authors.forename: Joong Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Mi Ra
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Hyung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D003907:Dexamethasone