title: Perioperative glucocorticoid prescribing habits in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a call for standardization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High-dose glucocorticoids (GCs) are routinely given to surgical patients with a history of GC exposure to prevent perioperative acute adrenal insufficiency, but this practice is not well supported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the variability of perioperative GC dosing among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing major abdominal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study of 49 patients with IBD undergoing colorectal surgery at a single institution between July 2010 and August 2011. Data on patient comorbidities, intraoperative risk factors, surgical site infections, and 30-day readmission rates were prospectively collected from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Preoperative GC exposure at the time of the index admission and perioperative GC therapy during admission were collected by review of the medical records. Patients were divided into 3 groups at the time of surgery: (1) 1 week or more of prior GC exposure, not receiving maintenance therapy (n = 15); (2) currently receiving budesonide (n = 10); and (3) currently receiving oral prednisone (n = 24).
  
  
  METHODS
  Perioperative GC exposure was the main outcome. Qualitative comparisons of perioperative exposure stratified by preoperative GC exposure were done. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine significant differences in surgical site infection and 30-day readmission rates among patients with and without perioperative GC exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 38 of 49 patients (78%) received perioperative GCs; intraoperative GCs were administered to 35 of 49 patients (71%), and 33 of 49 patients (67%) received postoperative GCs. Patients received intraoperative and postoperative GCs, respectively, as follows: 8 patients (53%) and 7 (47%) in group 1, 7 (70%) and 3 (30%) in group 2, and 20 (83%) and 23 (96%) in group 3. The median intraoperative GC dose was 100 mg (range, 50-267 mg of hydrocortisone or hydrocortisone equivalent for dexamethasone); the median total postoperative GC dose for the first 5 days after surgery was 485 mg (range, 50-890 mg of hydrocortisone or hydrocortisone equivalent for prednisone). The median duration of postoperative GC administration was 3 days for group 1, 6 days for group 2, and 7 days for group 3. No statistically significant difference in surgical site infection and 30-day readmission rates was detected in the GC exposure vs no-exposure groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perioperative GC dosing among patients with IBD undergoing colorectal surgery is highly variable even within a single center. Additional studies are needed to define the risk of postoperative adrenal insufficiency and establish standardized practices for perioperative GC therapy, which may have the benefit of reducing GC overuse.
authors.forename: Raymond F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Lamore
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hechenbleikner
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salvatori
authors.forename: Lindsay H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Marohn
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gearhart
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Efron
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Wick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone