The effect of dexamethasone on post-tonsillectomy nausea, vomiting and bleeding

• Autor(a) principal: Windfuhr,Jochen P.
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Outros Autores: Chen,Yue-Shih, Propst,Evan J., Güldner,Christian
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1808-86942011000300017
• topic: dexamethasone; hemorrhage; postoperative complications; tonsillectomy

It has been stated, that the administration of Dexamethasone has an impact on the morbidity following tonsillectomy. OBJECTIVE: To re-calculate the blood values for Dexamethasone when given as fixed doses and to evaluate the effect of Dexamethasone on post-operative nausea, vomiting and bleeding rates following tonsillectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The charts of 272 children (2-15 years) who had undergone tonsillectomy were analyzed. The rates of post-operative nausea, vomiting and bleeding in relation to Dexamethasone were calculated-in general and different doses (0 mg/kg, <0.15 mg/kg, &gt;0.15 mg/kg). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. RESULTS: Dexamethasone was administered in 121 children (43.7%) according to the preference of the anesthesist (mean dose: 0.2 +/- 0.12 mg/kg; range: 0.04 - 0.62 mg/kg). There was no significant difference in nausea and vomiting (p=0.953) or bleeding (p=0.827) across groups receiving or not receiving Dexamethasone. Stratification into three different groups of Dexamethasone concentration also did not identify a dose-related risk of postoperative nausea or vomiting (p=0.98) or bleeding (p=0.71). CONCLUSION: At least under common non-controlled conditions in the clinic, Dexamethasone does not appear to have an effect on nausea or vomiting or bleeding following tonsillectomy.