the effect of postoperative single-dose intravenous dexamethasone on common complications after tonsillectomy in children: a randomized controlled trial

conclusions in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy, dexamethasone has a significant antiemetic effect and decreases odynophagia, otalgia, and the need for analgesia. background tonsillectomy is associated with early and late postoperative complications in the children. previous studies have shown some effects of dexamethasone; however, there has been a lack of studies that evaluate its effects on other complications, including odynophagia and otalgia. objectives we aimed to investigate the effects of dexamethasone on odynophagia and otalgia after surgery. patients and methods in this randomized clinical trial, 100 patients who underwent adenotonsillectomy were divided into two groups: one group received 0.1 mg/kg of dexamethasone (case) and the other received ringer serum as a placebo (control). intravenous (iv) dexamethasone was prescribed to be administered by a nurse on the ward. the incidence of bleeding, nausea and vomiting, odynophagia, voice change, acetaminophen intake, halitosis and otalgia, and activity were evaluated at 24 h and during the first 7 days after surgery. results the mean ages of patients were 7.1 ± 2.8 and 6.5 ± 2.4 years in the control and case groups, respectively. the overall proportions of females and males were 41% and 59%, respectively. no significant difference in demographic data was seen between the two groups (p > 0.05). there was a significant difference in terms of odynophagia and nausea and vomiting between the case and control groups after 24 h (p = 0.001). there was no significant difference between the case and control groups in terms of bleeding, voice change, halitosis, or nausea and vomiting after 7 days (p > 0.05). meanwhile, there were a significant difference in the incidence of acetaminophen intake (60% vs. 30%, p = 0.002), odynophagia (24% vs. 6%, p = 0.011), otalgia (20% vs. 4%, p = 0.014), and activity (80% vs. 98%, p = 0.004) of patients after 7 days between the groups.