This study aims to evaluate the effect of postoperative systemic rapid onset and short acting dexamethasone followed by a tapering dose of oral prednisolone on post-tonsillectomy morbidities. Half of the patients who comply with the inclusion criteria were selected to receive a single postoperative dose of intravenous dexamethasone followed by oral steroids; the second group received placebo.
The effect of preoperative systemic steroids on post-tonsillectomy morbidities such as pain, nausea, vomiting and delayed feeding was proven. However, this study aims to evaluate the effect of postoperative systemic rapid onset and short acting dexamethasone followed by a tapering dose of oral prednisolone on the aforementioned morbidities and on decreasing the duration and costs of hospital stays. patients who were in the waiting list for tonsillectomy procedure were screened for medical history and those who comply with the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned into two equal groups of 50 patients each. One group was selected to receive a single postoperative dose of intravenous dexamethasone followed by oral steroids; the second group received placebo. Questionnaires investigating postoperative pain, nausea, vomiting, and oral intake were answered by patients, parents or guardians where applicable.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
100
0.15 mg/kg
0.25mg/kg/day for 7 days then tapering for next 7 days
acetaminophen 15 mg/kg/dose every 6 hours
Maximum Severity of Post-operative Pain
5 grades (pain free, low disability and low intensity, low disability and high intensity, high disability and moderate intensity, high disability and severly limiting)
Time frame: The severest pain grade felt within a week
Duration of Post-operative Pain
4 selections (1 day, 2 days, 3 days, if more specify)
Time frame: number of days at which pain was experienced within the the 1st sevn days post -surgery
Occurence of Post-operative Nausea
Postoperative nausea occurence (yes, no)
Time frame: 7 days
Onset of Post-operative Nausea
Postoperative nausea onset (no nausea, immediate, 1st day, 2nd day, 3rd day, 4th day, 5th day, 6th day, 7th day)
Time frame: onset of 1st ocurence of nausea attack within the 1st week post-surgery
Duration of Post-operative Nausea
Postoperative nausea duration (no nausea,1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, if more specify)
Time frame: 7 days
Occurence of Postoperative Vomiting
Postoperative vomiting occurrence (yes, no)
Time frame: 7 days
Total Number of Post-operative Vomiting Episodes
Postoperative vomiting number of attacks (no vomiting,1, 2, 3, if more specify)
Time frame: total number of post-operative vomiting episodes which were experienced within the 1st week post-surgery
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IV saline
Onset of 1st Post-operative Oral Intake
feeding onset (1st day i. surgery day, 2nd day, 3rd day)
Time frame: Onset of 1st post-operative oral intake recorded within the 1st 3days post-surgery
Average Amount of Meal Per Day
adequacy of meals (inadequate, adequate)
Time frame: 3 days
Average Frequency of Meals Per Day
average frequency of meals (1 meal, 2 meals, if more specify)
Time frame: average number of meals consumed per day for the 1st three days post-surgery