Effects of Dexamethasone in Preventing Postoperative Emesis After Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy in Children

Short Communications

English

Usama Suwyah¹ and Marek Rogowski²

1-Department of Otolaryngology, 2-Department of Anaesthesia. Medical Academy of Bialystok, Poland

JMJ 2007,Vol.7, No.4:295-297

Abstract

Postoperative nausea, retching, and vomiting are common following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy with an incidence as high as 40-70%. The aim of the present study is to determine whether the preoperative administration of dexamethasone prior to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children can reduce the morbidity (postoperative emesis) and increase the safety of the procedure Patients and methods: sixty children aged 3-16 year undergoing tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy or adenotosillectomy were enrolled in the 6 month prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study, preoperative preparation and anaesthetic technique were standardized. Anesthesia was induced with propofol, fentanyl and atracurium, and maintained with halothane, nitrous oxide, oxygen. Each child randomly received either (0.5mg/kg up to 16 mg maximum) of dexamethasone or saline solution i/v 30 min before induction of anaesthesia. All episodes of nausea, retching and vomiting were recorded for 24 h after completion of surgery. Results: the overall incidence of vomiting, was Significantly less in the dexamethasone group as compared with the saline group, 31 vs 48% of patients. Conclusion: Treatment with intravenous dexamethasone before tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy is safe and decreases morbidity (emesis).

Keywords: Tonsillectomy, Adenoidectomy Postoperative vomiting, Dexamethasone

Link/DOI: http://www.jmj.org.ly/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1436