title: Randomized clinical trial comparing oral prednisone (50 mg) with placebo before laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intravenous administration of dexamethasone 90 min before laparoscopic cholecystectomy improves surgical outcome but may be impractical. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical efficacy of oral self-administration of prednisone 2 h before ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, 200 patients were randomized to oral administration of prednisone (50 mg) or placebo 2 h before laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients received a similar standardized anaesthetic, surgical, and analgesic treatment. The primary outcome was pain 24 h after surgery and secondary outcomes were fatigue and malaise 24 h after surgery. Outcome parameters were registered before operation, on the day of operation, and the following two days. Analgesic and antiemetic requirements were registered, and nausea and vomiting were assessed twice within the first 24 h. Side-effects and 30-day follow-up for morbidity were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 184 patients were available for statistical analysis. There were no significant differences in side-effects or complications between the surgical groups (P > 0.05). No significant intergroup differences in 24-h pain, fatigue or malaise scores or any other variables were found (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no important clinical gain of preoperative oral steroid administration compared with placebo in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
authors: Thue
authors: T
authors: Bisgaard
authors: Svend
authors: S
authors: Schulze
authors: Niels
authors: N
authors: Christian Hjortsø
authors: Jacob
authors: J
authors: Rosenberg
authors: Viggo
authors: V
authors: Bjerregaard Kristiansen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005221:Fatigue / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011300:Preoperative Care
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011241:Prednisone