EFFECT OF PREOPERATIVE DEXAMETHASONE ON POSTOPERATIVE PAIN, EMESIS AND HAEMORRHAGE IN TONSILLECTOMY BY DISSECTION METHOD

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the effect of single preoperative intravenous dose of dexamethasone on postoperative morbidity that is pain, episodes of emesis, and hemorrhage in patients undergoing tonsillectomy by dissection method with those who do not receive dexamethasone.
Design: Randomized control type.
Place and Duration of Study: ENT Department Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi., from Feb 2006 to Feb 2007.
Patients and Methods: After getting informed consent a total of 60 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected. They were divided into two groups of 30 each by convenience non-probability sampling. Group A received 0.25 mg/kg body weight (maximum 20 mg) of dexamethasone intravenously 10 minutes before start of operation while group B (control group) did not receive any steroid.
Results: Pain control had significant difference in both groups with better control rates in group A. Similarly, emesis control was significantly better in group A. There was no significant difference in secondary haemorrhage in the two groups.
Conclusion: Single dose of dexamethasone given preoperatively significantly reduces the postoperative morbidity that is pain, episodes of emesis with no effect on secondary hemorrhage in patients undergoing tonsillectomy by dissection method.