The purpose of the study is to determine the opiate sparing effects of intravenously administered dexamethasone in outpatient knee surgery. Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid with well known antiemetic effects. However, the analgesic effects of dexamethasone have not been adequately researched. Following surgery, patients are typically discharged home with PO opiates to manage post-operative pain. The investigators believe that by using VAS (Visual Analog Scale) for Pain the investigators can show that a single dose of dexamethasone can reduce pain scales and opiate consumption post-operatively, on Post Operative Day (POD 1) when compared to placebo.
Findings of Modest improvement in pain scores and postoperative nausea at 24 hours with Dexamethasone
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
82
Dexamethasone 8mg iv x1
2 ml normal saline IV x1
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Post Operative VAS Pain Scale
Patients were instructed to select a number between zero and ten to indicate the degree of pain they experience (zero being no pain and ten being the worst pain they could imagine). Therefore, ten is worse than zero.
Time frame: 24 hours
Amount of Postop Narcotic Usage
Patients were requested to record the number of prescribed oral analgesic (oxycodone 5 mg/aceteminophen 325 mg) tablets taken for the first 24 hours following discharge
Time frame: 24 hours
Postop Nausea
NRS scale 0-10 for nausea. Zero indicates no nausea, Ten indicates the worst nausea imagined.
Time frame: 24 hours
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