Dexamethasone is a medication that has been shown to have clear anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory, and painkilling properties. Dexamethasone is currently used to manage postoperative symptoms of a variety of surgical procedures. However, its effect has not been validated for scleral buckling surgery, which is used to treat retinal detachment, a medical emergency that can lead to permanent blindness. In this study, the investigators will randomly administer dexamethasone to half of scleral buckling surgery patients, and a placebo to the other half. The investigators will then compare the postoperative symptoms of the two groups in order to determine whether dexamethasone should be used for scleral buckling surgeries.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE
8mg (2cc of 4mg/mL solution), IV solution, 1-time dose during surgery
2cc of 0.9% normal saline, IV injection, 1-time dose during surgery
St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Western Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Subjective Level of Postoperative Nausea
Assessed through patient survey, measured by 10cm visual analogue scale
Time frame: At 1 and 7 days post-surgery
Subjective Level of Postoperative Pain
Assessed by patient survey, measured by Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale
Time frame: 1 and 7 days post-surgery
Subjective rating of post-operative lid edema
Assessed by investigator, rated "mild", "moderate", or "severe"
Time frame: At 1 and 7 days post-surgery
Subjective rating of postoperative chemosis
Assessed by investigator, recorded as "mild", "moderate", or "severe"
Time frame: 1 and 7 days post-surgery
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