Using Dexamethasone After Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study looks at lessening the pain after a Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) surgery by using Dexamethasone (a corticosteroid).

Detailed Description
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The study was designed because patients have a lot of pain after they have a UPPP. Certain drugs called steroids may lessen the pain associated from this surgery. This study uses Dexamethasone (a corticosteroid), to see if it will help reduce pain, decrease the amount of time until the patient can begin to eat or return to normal activity, or increase their satisfaction with pain management. In this study the patients will be randomized (computer chosen) to receive either the study drug (dexamethasone), or a placebo. The patient will start the day before surgery with a single pill. They will then receive the dexamethasone or a placebo twice daily for the next four days and then once daily for the next two days for a total of seven days. Afterward, they will be asked to complete a questionnaire. The five questions ask patients to access the amount of pain they have, how much of their normal diet or activity they have returned to, and how much pain medication they have taken. At the next follow-up visit they will be asked to complete another questionaire (9 questions) about the patient's satisfaction with pain management.

Official Title
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Decreasing Morbidity After Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty With the Use of Dexamethasone - A Randomized Double Blinded Placebo Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Dexamethasone
* Drug: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Candidates scheduled for UPPP surgery. Able to take steroids Exclusion Criteria: Those patients who unable to take steroids

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Placebo Comparator: 2<br>Patient will receive a placebo. | Drug: Placebo<br>* They will take a pill the day before surgery, twice daily for the next four days and then once daily for the next two days for a total of seven days.<br>|
| Experimental: 1<br>Patient will receive dexamethasone. | Drug: Dexamethasone<br>* They will take a pill the day before surgery, twice daily for the next four days and then once daily for the next two days for a total of seven days.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quantifying patient treatment with a questionaire. Patient will rate their satisfaction with pain management. |  | Eleven days post-operative | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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UPPP, Dexamethasone, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, Pain Management, Increasing pain management in patients that have undergone UPPP surgery