A single dose of dexamethasone to prevent postbronchoscopy fever in children: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of one dose of dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg; maximum, 10 mg) to prevent fever after bronchoscopy with BAL.


METHODS
Randomized, placebo-controlled study.


METHODS
Immunocompetent nonfebrile children undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy with BAL.


RESULTS
Sixty-nine children were included in the study. Thirty-eight children received saline solution, and 31 children received dexamethasone. The two groups were similar regarding the number of children < 2 years old, the percentage of abnormal bronchoscopic findings, the number of positive BAL culture findings, and the index of lipid-laden macrophages. Twenty-six children (68%) in the saline solution group (SG) had fever, compared to 3 children (9.6%) in the dexamethasone group (DG) [p < 0.001]. Fever after the procedure appeared later (12.3 +/- 5.5 h) in the DG compared to 5.4 +/- 2.7 h in the SG.


CONCLUSIONS
One dose of dexamethasone administered prior to performing bronchoscopy with BAL may prevent fever subsequent to the procedure. Further studies are necessary in order to determine the optimal dosing regimen for dexamethasone when used for this purpose.
Picard
Elie
E
Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. Picard@szmc.org.il
Goldberg
Shmuel
S
Virgilis
Dov
D
Schwartz
Shepard
S
Raveh
David
D
Kerem
Eitan
E
D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010919:Placebos; D003907:Dexamethasone