Conditions: Postoperative Pain Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Keywords: Dexamethasone Prednisolone Tonsillectomy Nausea Pain, Postoperative Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Randomized controlled trial Post-tonsillectomy pain delayed feeding
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 100
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
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.

Detailed description:
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.

Arms:
arm 1: Single dose of intravenous dexamethasone given immediately following surgery (0.15 mg/kg), followed by oral Prednisolone (0.25mg/kg/day for 7 days then tapering for next 7 days) and paracetamol (acetaminophen 15 mg/kg/dose every 6 hours). arm 2: Placebo (IV saline) and paracetamol (acetaminophen 15 mg/kg/dose every 6 hours).

Interventions: intervention 1: IV dexamethasone intervention 2: Oral prednisolone intervention 3: Paracetamol intervention 4: IV saline
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 0.15 mg/kg intervention 2: 0.25mg/kg/day for 7 days then tapering for next 7 days intervention 3: acetaminophen 15 mg/kg/dose every 6 hours intervention 4: IV saline

Protocol document: