The effect of dexamethasone on postoperative vomiting and oral intake after adenotonsillectomy.

Objective: Vomiting is one of the most important postoperative complications of adenotonsillectomy. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of preoperative intravenous dexamethasone on postoperative emesis.

Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 100 patients aged 5-15 years, ASA classes I and II were randomly selected to receive either 0.5 mg/kg IV dexamethasone (n=50), as study group or an equivalent volume of saline preoperatively, as control group. The anesthetic regimen and surgical procedures were standardized for all patients. The incidence of early and late vomiting, the time to first oral intake and duration of intravenous hydration were compared in both groups.

Results: Data analysis showed that the overall incidence of early and late vomiting was significantly lesser in dexamehasone group than the control one. The time to first oral intake and duration of IV therapy were also significantly shorter in dexamethasone group.

Conclusion: A single dose of dexamethasone significantly decreased the incidence of postoperative vomiting in early and late recovery phase and shortened the time to first oral intake and the duration of IV therapy.