Efficacy of single dose perioperative intravenous steroid [dexamethasone] for postoperative pain relief in tonsillectomy patients

ABSTRACT

To determine the efficacy of single dose perioperative intravenous steroid [dexamethasone] for postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Quasi-experimental study. Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, from November 2009 to June 2010. Sixty patients were divided into two equal groups. A single dose of dexamethasone was given to patients of group A during induction of anaesthesia, whereas no steroid was given to the patients in group B. Postoperative pain scores were assessed at 2, 6 and 12 hours in both groups using visual analogue scale [VAS]. Pain was classified as mild [0-3], moderate [4-7] and severe [8-10] on visual analogue scale. There was no significant difference in pain scores after 2 hours postoperatively. Pain scores of Group A at 6 and 12 hours postoperatively were found to be significantly low than Group B. Single dose perioperative intravenous injection of dexamethasone in tonsillectomy patients reduces postoperative tonsillectomy pain