Use of dexamethasone in cerebral oedema

Dexamethasone is prescribed routinely to reduce cerebral oedema in neurosurgical patients undergoing craniotomy for tumour .Dexamethasone, however, has been shown to cause hyperglycaemia. We describe a case of hyperglycaemic crisis, cerebral oedema secondary to dexamethasone in a patient with a Right temporal meningioma. We highlight the risks of pre-operative dexamethasone and discuss the diagnosis, treatment and complications of hyperglycaemic crises and diabetic ketoacidosis