Single dose dexamethasone effect on postoperative pain in pediatric adenotonsillectomy in Habbobi Teaching Hospital in Nasiriyah-Iraq (2013-2015)‎

Abstract EN

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of single calculated dose of dexamethasone per-operatively in reducing pain in pediatric adenotonsillectomy.

Materials and Methods: its retrospective study of One hundred fifty patients underwent adenotonsillectomy with age range of 6-12 years old divided into two equal groups , the 1st group (treatment) receive single dose (0.5mg/Kg) dexamethasone intravenously at induction of general anesthesia , the 2nd (control) receive nothing , pain assessed postoperatively at 2, 8 and 16 hours using Visual Analogue Score (Mild "1-4" , Moderate "5-7" and Severe "8-10") .

Results : The difference at 2 hours postoperatively was statistically insignificant , but at 8 and 16 hours it was statistically significant (P-value <0.05) .

Conclusion : single dose dexamethasone at induction of adenotonsillectomy general anesthesia significantly reduce pain in the postoperative period .