Dexamethasone prophylaxis before thyroidectomy to reduce postoperative nausea, pain, and vocal dysfunction: A randomized clinical controlled trial

Impact of Intraoperative Dexamethasone on Perioperative Blood Glucose Levels: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

BACKGROUND

Dexamethasone is associated with increased blood glucose levels that could impact patient outcomes or management. This study aimed to synthesize the available evidence regarding the impact of an intraoperative single dose of dexamethasone on blood glucose levels.

METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and clinicaltrials.gov for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing a single intraoperative dose of dexamethasone to control in adult patients who underwent noncardiac surgery. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and the review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023420562). Data were pooled using a random-effects model. We reported pooled dichotomous data using odds ratios (OR) and continuous data using the mean difference (MD), reporting 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), and corresponding P-values for both. Confidence in the evidence was appraised using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. As primary outcomes we assessed maximum blood glucose levels measurement and variation from baseline within 24 hours of surgery; blood glucose levels measurement and variation from baseline at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after dexamethasone administration. As secondary outcomes, we evaluated insulin requirements and hyperglycemic events.

RESULTS

We included 23 RCTs, enrolling 11,154 participants overall. Dexamethasone was associated with a significant increment in blood glucose levels compared to control at all timepoints. The results showed an increase compared to control of 0.37 mmol L-1 (6.7 mg dL-1) at 2 hours (95% CI, 0.16-0.58 mmol L-1 or 2.9-10.5 mg dL-1), 0.97 mmol L-1 (17.5 mg dL-1) at 4 hours (95% CI, 0.67-1.25 mmol L-1 or 12.1-22.5 mg dL-1), 0.96 mmol L-1 (17.3 mg dL-1) at 8 hours (95% CI, 0.55-1.36 mmol L-1 or 9.9-24.5 mg dL-1), 0.90 mmol L-1 (16.2 mg dL-1) at 12 hours (95% CI, 0.62-1.19 mmol L-1 or 11.2-21.4 mg dL-1) and 0.59 mmol L-1 (10.6 mg dL-1) at 24 hours (95% CI, 0.22-0.96 mmol L-1 or 4.0-17.3 mg dL-1). No difference was found between subgroups regarding diabetic status (patients with diabetes versus patients without diabetes) in all the outcomes except 2 (maximum blood glucose levels variation within 24 hours and variation at 4 hours) and dexamethasone dose (4-5 mg vs 8-10 mg) in all the outcomes except 2 (blood glucose levels at 24 hours and hyperglycemic events).

CONCLUSIONS

Mean blood glucose levels rise between 0.37 and 1.63 mmol L-1 (6.7 and 29.4 mg dL-1) within 24 hours after a single dose of dexamethasone administered at induction of anesthesia compared to control, but in most patients this difference will not be clinically relevant.

Effectiveness of Adding Dexamethasone to Lidocaine in Upper Limbs Nerve Blocks: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

The use of perineural dexamethasone as an adjuvant drug to peripheral nerve block for postoperative pain is controversial. This systematic review aimed to determine the effectiveness of adding dexamethasone to lidocaine in upper limb nerve blocks.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

This review used a comprehensive search strategy to retrieve relevant published randomized trial articles that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria, without time limits, (until December 2023) that assessed the effects of a combination of dexamethasone to lidocaine in upper limb nerve blocks. The databases used for the electronic literature search included PubMed, Embase, and Clinical Trials.gov, dbGaP, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar. There was no language, gender, or age limitation. This systematic review is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement.

FINDINGS

Of 3,926 articles identified by the initial search, 8 studies that met our inclusion criteria. All articles were original research studies. All eight articles were clinical trials. The sample size in the selected studies ranged from 30 to 90 people. Studies demonstrated that combining dexamethasone with lidocaine significantly improved the quality of peripheral nerve blocks, increased the analgesia period, and decreased analgesic consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

This review supported that the combination of dexamethasone (dose of 4 to 10 mg) and lidocaine (concentration of 1.5% to 2%) for upper limb block was more effective and beneficial without any side effects. However, further clinical trials in this regard with more data, various regions, and larger sample sizes to support our hypothesis are recommended.

Pain management after thoracotomy with dexamethasone and bupivacaine through a peripleural cather: a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Thoracotomy procedures can result in significant pain and cause nausea/vomiting. Glucocorticoids have anti-emetic and analgesic effects due to their anti-inflammatory and nerve-blocking properties. This study investigates the additive effect of local dexamethasone with bupivacaine as sole analgesic medication through a peripleural catheter after thoracotomy.

METHOD

The study was conducted as a randomized control trial on 82 patients. Participants were allocated to receive either 2.5 mg/kg of bupivacaine plus 0.2 mg/kg of dexamethasone or 2.5 mg/kg of bupivacaine plus the same amount of normal saline as placebo through a 6 French peripleural catheter implemented above the parietal pleura and beneath the musculoskeletal structure of the chest wall. The primary outcome was the severity of pain 24 h after the operation in the visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of nausea/vomiting, opioid consumption for pain control, and incidence of any adverse effects.

RESULTS

A total of 50 participants were randomized to each group, and the baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. Median of VAS score (6 (3-8) vs. 8 (6-9), p < 0.001), postoperative opioid consumption (9 (36%) vs. 17 (68%) patients, p=0.024), and median length of hospital stay (4 (3-8) vs. 6 (3-12) days, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the dexamethasone group. However, postoperative nausea/vomiting (p=0.26 for nausea and p=0.71 for vomiting) and surgical site infection (p = 0.55) were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

In thoracotomy patients, administering local dexamethasone + bupivacaine through a peripleural catheter can reduce postoperative pain, analgesic consumption, and length of hospital stay.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20220309054226N1, registration date: 3/21/2022.

Outcomes of Preoperative Medical Therapy for Thyroidectomy in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

INTRODUCTION

Thyroidectomy provides definitive treatment for autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) often resulting in improved quality of life. Historically, patients with AITD undergoing thyroidectomy have increased rates of postoperative hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. We investigated the outcomes of preoperative medications in patients with AITD undergoing thyroidectomy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent thyroidectomy for AITD at a single institution from 2015 to 2021. Surgical outcomes and perioperative laboratory values were analyzed by type of AITD and type of preoperative medical treatment: none, saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI), corticosteroids, or both SSKI and corticosteroids.

RESULTS

A total of 123 patients underwent thyroidectomy for AITD and were included in analysis: 50 received no preoperative medications, 40 received SSKI, 20 received corticosteroids, and 13 received both. Seventy-six patients had Graves' disease and 47 had Hashimoto's thyroiditis. There were no significant differences in blood loss, operative time, wound complications, hematoma, or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury for patients treated with preoperative corticosteroids compared to those who were not. Patients who received corticosteroids and patients with Graves' disease more commonly had at least one instance of hypocalcemia postoperatively (P < 0.01, P = 0.01), although only on postoperative day 1 was mean calcium < 8.5 mg/dL. There was no difference in rate of transient or permanent hypoparathyroidism.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who received corticosteroids preoperatively had no increased risk of complications. They did have mildly lower calcium levels in the early postoperative period, although no difference in hypoparathyroidism. Further exploration is warranted to investigate the impact of preoperative corticosteroids on operative difficulty, quality of life, and autoantibody clearance.

The Impact of Glucocorticoid Treatment on Hypocalcemia Following Thyroid Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Patients undergoing thyroidectomy often develop hypocalcemia. While there is evidence suggesting that the prophylactic administration of dexamethasone in patients undergoing thyroidectomy can reduce the risk of postoperative complications including nausea, vomiting, and pain, it remains uncertain as to whether such treatment has a similar impact on hypocalcemia risk. Here, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focused on comparing the risk of postoperative hypocalcemia in thyroidectomy patients that either were or were not administered a single preoperative dose of dexamethasone were systematically evaluated. These RCTs were identified by searching the Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for all relevant publications as of April 2023. Primary study outcomes included biochemical hypocalcemia and symptomatic hypocalcemia incidence within 24 h after thyroidectomy, while the incidence of permanent hypocalcemia was a secondary outcome in this analysis. Random-effects models were used for all comparisons in this meta-analysis. In total, 8 RCTs enrolling 1666 patients were incorporated when conducting this meta-analysis. Relative to placebo control treatment, dexamethasone administration was associated with significant reductions in the rates of postoperative symptomatic hypocalcemia (OR = 0.40; 95%CI 0.16-1.00; p = 0.050) and biochemical hypocalcemia (OR = 0.34;95%CI 0.14-0.83; p = 0.020 (p < 0.05). No differences were detected between these groups with respect to the incidence of permanent hypocalcemia, and no trials revealed any evidence of glucocorticoid-associated complications. Significant heterogeneity was detected among studies, but the exclusion of any single study did not significantly alter study outcomes. The present pooled analyses suggested that one preoperative dexamethasone dose was sufficient to reduce the odds of thyroidectomy patients developing biochemical or symptomatic hypocalcemia within 24 h after the procedure. The prophylactic administration of steroids was both safe and effective, suggesting that it warrants consideration as a component of routine clinical care. However, additional prospective work will be vital to validate the efficacy of dexamethasone as a means of preventing objective hypocalcemia in this patient population.

Effect of dexamethasone and ramosetron on the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in low-risk patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial

BACKGROUND

Several studies have investigated the effect of antiemetics on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in high-risk groups. However, few studies have investigated the effect of antiemetics in patients at low risk of developing PONV.

METHODS

In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial, 177 patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia were randomly allocated to three groups. Patients allocated to group C (control group) received 2 mL of intravenous 0.9% saline, those allocated to group R (ramosetron group) received 0.3 mg of intravenous ramosetron, and those allocated to group DR (ramosetron plus dexamethasone group) received 5 mg of intravenous dexamethasone and 0.3 mg of intravenous ramosetron.

RESULTS

Finally, 174 patients completed the study, and the types of surgeries were orthopedic (n = 80), rhinologic (n = 47), urologic (n = 29), and others (n = 18). The incidence of PONV up to 48 h postoperatively was significantly lower in group DR than in group C. The incidence of PONV up to 0-1 h postoperatively was significantly lower in groups R and DR than in group C. The usage pattern of rescue antiemetics was consistent with the incidence of PONV. The percentage of patients requiring rescue analgesics 0-1 h postoperatively was significantly lower in groups R and DR than in group C.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of dexamethasone and ramosetron demonstrated a superior effect in preventing PONV for 48 h after surgery under general anesthesia than saline in patients at low risk of developing PONV. Compared with saline injections, ramosetron injections yielded better outcomes for the incidence of PONV and the use of rescue antiemetics and rescue analgesics 0-1 h postoperatively.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical trial registration number: criskorea@korea.kr, KCT0006749.

Effect of dexamethasone administration for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis on glucose levels in adults with diabetes undergoing elective surgery: a systematic review with meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review was to evaluate the effect of intravenous dexamethasone given intraoperatively for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis on maximal blood glucose level within the initial 24 hours following elective surgery for patients with diabetes.

INTRODUCTION

Postoperative nausea and vomiting is a prevalent adverse effect of anesthesia that leads to morbidity, increased health care costs, and unanticipated hospital admissions. Dexamethasone is an effective prophylactic agent that confers secondary analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits. However, its use in patients with diabetes remains controversial due to the potential for increased postoperative blood glucose levels.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

This review considered studies with participants 18 years of age or older with type 1 or 2 diabetes undergoing an elective surgical procedure. Eligible studies reported postoperative blood glucose levels in adults with diabetes after receiving a single 4-10 mg prophylactic dose of intravenous dexamethasone intraoperatively for postoperative nausea and vomiting. The primary outcome was maximum blood glucose level in the first 24 hours after surgery. All study designs were eligible for inclusion. Studies were excluded if they lacked a control group with diabetes or if they did not report maximum blood glucose values in both groups.

METHODS

A search of MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, Embase, Web of Science, TRIP database, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was completed in October 2021. Gray literature resources were also searched. No date or language restrictions were applied. Methodological quality was assessed using JBI appraisal tools for randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies. A meta-analysis of maximal postoperative blood glucose level within 24 hours of surgery was performed, as well as subgroup analyses by dexamethasone dose, insulin treatment, and study design type.

RESULTS

Eleven studies (4 randomized controlled trials, 6 cohort studies, and 1 case-control study) were included in this review, with 1 study excluded from meta-analysis and results reported narratively. The total sample size of studies included in meta-analysis was 2567. The administration of dexamethasone significantly increased maximal blood glucose levels in the 24 hours immediately following surgery compared with control groups with diabetes, as demonstrated by randomized controlled trials (mean difference [MD] 39.56 mg/dL; 95% CI 16.18 to 62.94; P < 0.001; I2 = 87%) and observational studies (MD 26.31 mg/dL; 95% CI 7.10 to 45.52; P = 0.007; I2 = 92%). This increase in blood glucose was significant for all doses of dexamethasone: 4 mg (MD 40.81 mg/dL; 95% CI 2.42 to 79.19; P = 0.001; I2 = 91%), 8 mg (randomized controlled trials only; MD 39.45 mg/dL; 95% CI 15.32 to 63.58; P = 0.001; I2 = 86%), and mixed 4-10 mg dose (MD 30.82 mg/dL; 95% CI 6.75 to 54.88; P < 0.012; I2 = 93%). Postoperative hyperglycemia persisted in studies using insulin treatment as well as those not using insulin protocols. The overall certainty of the findings ranged from very low for outcomes that included cohort studies to moderate when outcomes from randomized controlled trials were analyzed separately. However, the quantitative findings of the experimental and observational studies were clinically similar. Risk of bias presented minimal concerns in all included studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexamethasone leads to transient postoperative hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes undergoing elective surgery when given as a single 4-10 mg intravenous dose for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis. The clinical relevance of hyperglycemia is debatable given its small magnitude and transient nature. Without more tightly controlled data, methodological consistency, and baseline blood glucose values, it is impossible to test causal links between hyperglycemia and pre-existing patient factors (eg, hemoglobin A1C levels) or postoperative complications.

REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020185607.

The Effects of Chronic Steroid Use on Postoperative Complications Following Thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing thyroidectomy are sometimes on chronic steroids for underlying disease. This study examined the postoperative risk profile of thyroidectomy patients on chronic steroids.

METHODS

Patients in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database who underwent thyroidectomy were sorted by presence or absence of chronic steroid use. Clinicodemographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were recorded and compared between the two. Univariate and multivariate analyses compared the groups and calculated odds ratios (OR).

RESULTS

We identified 42,857 patients. 41,903 (97.8%) patients were not on chronic steroids, while 954 (2.2%) were. Most underwent total thyroidectomy (18,748, 43.75%) or total lobectomy (16,323, 38.09%). Following univariate and multivariate analyses, patients on chronic steroids had increased risk of postoperative bleeding and transfusions (OR = 0.375, p = 0.046, 95% CI 0.223-0.988), open wound infection (OR = 0.226, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.117-0.437), pulmonary embolism (OR = 0.312, p = 0.034, 95% CI 0.106-0.918), and ventilator use > 48 h (OR = 0.401, p < 0.008, 95% CI 0.205-0.785).

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic steroid use prior to thyroidectomy is an independent risk factor for multiple postoperative complications, namely postoperative bleeding and transfusions, open wound infection, pulmonary embolism, and ventilator use over 48 h. Patients on chronic steroids should be medically optimized before thyroidectomy to reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening complications.

Patterns of Prescribing Postoperative Analgesic Medication After Thyroid Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

Mild-to-moderate postoperative pain is common after surgical procedures of the thyroid. Opioid analgesics have been commonly prescribed in such cases, but their use has been debated owing to concerns regarding the addictive nature of opioids. Recently, experts from the Endocrine Surgery Section of the American Head and Neck Society released a consensus document to limit the use of opioids as the first-line pain control medication after head and neck or endocrine procedures. However, differences in pain management prescriptions have been noted in many settings. This study aims to assess the post-thyroid surgery pain control medication prescription practices of head and neck and endocrine surgeons.

Methods

This study retrospectively reviewed the charts of 105 adult patients who underwent thyroid surgery (total thyroidectomy, thyroid lobectomy, or subtotal thyroidectomy) by head and neck or endocrine surgeons. The type of prescribed pain medication at hospital discharge postoperatively was then retrieved from each patient's discharge medication list. Descriptive statistics mean, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages were computed, while the Chi-square test was applied to measure the significant differences among variables at a 5.00% significant level.

Results

An outpatient oral opioid, in the form combining paracetamol and codeine, was prescribed for 62 (59%) patients, whereas 43 (41%) were discharged on paracetamol only.

Conclusion

The use of opioids is the practice pattern for pain management among some head and neck or endocrine surgeons despite emerging evidence that supports the use of non-opioid and other alternative analgesic strategies in outpatient thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Further research and quality improvement interventions should be geared towards leading all health professionals to appropriate prescription practices to improve patient safety and reduce unnecessary opioid prescriptions.

Dexamethasone for Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) frequently occur after thyroidectomy. Previous studies have investigated the effects of preoperative dexamethasone for alleviating PONV in various cancers, but studies focused on papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) were limited. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a single preoperative dose of dexamethasone to prevent PONV in patients with PTC.

METHODS

This single-center, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on patients with PTC in West China Hospital. Patients were randomized 1:1 into Group Dex (preoperative 8-mg dexamethasone) or Group Control (0.9% NaCl as control). The primary outcome was the incidence and severity of PONV. The secondary outcomes included postoperative pain, vocal dysfunction, and adverse events.

RESULTS

Six hundred participants were recruited and randomized. The total incidence of PONV was 33.3% (200 of 600 patients; 95% CI, 29.6-37.1). In the intention-to-treat analysis, PONV occurred in 81 of 300 patients (27.0%; 95% CI, 21.9-32.1) in Group Dex and in 119 of 300 patients (39.7%; 95% CI, 34.1-45.2) in Group Control (p = 0.001), and the absolute risk reduction was 12.7% (95% CI, 5.1-20.0). Patients in Group Dex reported fewer antiemetic requirements than those in Group Control (p = 0.004). Multivariate analysis indicated that dexamethasone administration (OR = 0.546; 95% CI, 0.383-0.777; p = 0.001) was associated with a reduced rate of PONV. Dexamethasone treatment also contributed to alleviating postoperative pain and improving subjective vocal dysfunction, with no increase in adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

A single dose of dexamethasone is effective and safe for preventing PONV in PTC patients.

Comparison of Fentanyl plus different doses of dexamethasone with Fentanyl alone on postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting after lower extremity orthopedic surgery

Intravenous patient controlled analgesia (PCA) with opioids to provide perioperative analgesia is commonly used after orthopedic surgery, but have side-effects. Addition of adjutant drugs results in reducing the side-effects and the dosage of opioids. The aim of current study was to evaluation the analgesic efficacy of combination of fentanyl and dexamethasone (8 and 16 mg) in compared with fentanyl alone in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery of the lower extremity. In a double-blind clinical trial, 102 patients were randomly allocated to receive PCA, which included: F+S group (fentanyl 1 mcg/ml + isotonic saline), F+8mD group (fentanyl 1 mcg/ml + dexamethasone 8 mg/ml), and F+16mD group (fentanyl 1 mcg/ml + dexamethasone 16 mg/ml). Anesthesia technique and rescue analgesia regimen were standardized. Postoperatively, pain was assessed based on visual analog scale (VAS). In addition, we evaluated the postoperative nausea and vomiting (POVN) in different groups. In over the post-operative period, the mean VAS-score was significantly lower in the F+16mD group than the F+S and the F+8mD groups (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). In addition, the incidence of PONV significantly was lower in the F+18mD group than the F+S group (p<0.05). We conclude that the addition of preoperative intravenous high dose of dexamethasone (16 mg) to fentanyl was effective in reducing postoperative pain and PONV after orthopedic surgery of the lower extremity.

Could Exogenous Insulin Ameliorate the Metabolic Dysfunction Induced by Glucocorticoids and COVID-19?

The finding that high-dose dexamethasone improves survival in those requiring critical care due to COVID-19 will mean much greater usage of glucocorticoids in the subsequent waves of coronavirus infection. Furthermore, the consistent finding of adverse outcomes from COVID-19 in individuals with obesity, hypertension and diabetes has focussed attention on the metabolic dysfunction that may arise with critical illness. The SARS coronavirus itself may promote relative insulin deficiency, ketogenesis and hyperglycaemia in susceptible individuals. In conjunction with prolonged critical care, these components will promote a catabolic state. Insulin infusion is the mainstay of therapy for treatment of hyperglycaemia in acute illness but what is the effect of insulin on the admixture of glucocorticoids and COVID-19? This article reviews the evidence for the effect of insulin on clinical outcomes and intermediary metabolism in critical illness.

Osteogenic Evaluation of Hydroxyapatite Scaffold Loaded With Dexamethasone in Femoral Drill Holes

BACKGROUND/AIM

Many cases of bone damage are due to trauma and metabolic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate bone regeneration into a porous hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffold using dexamethasone (DM)-loaded polymeric microspheres.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four adult dogs were used to evaluate the in vivo performance of DM-loaded microspheres immobilized on the surfaces of porous HA scaffolds. Two 5-mm drill holes were created in both the left and right femurs of each dog. The experimental groups included a control group (drill holes filled with HA scaffold alone), a DM 20 group (holes filled with DM-loaded HA scaffold with 20 mg DM per scaffold), and a DM 100 group (hole filled with DM-loaded HA scaffold with 100 mg DM per scaffold). Resulting bone volume percentages and bone mineral densities were calculated by examing micro-computed tomographic (CT) images.

RESULTS

The DM-loaded HA scaffold groups showed a gradual periosteal reaction two weeks after insertion of the HA scaffold into the femoral drill holes. Four weeks after HA scaffold insertion, the periosteal reaction in the femoral drill holes became denser. Eight weeks after insertion of DM-loaded HA scaffolds, clear images of the scaffold were observed in micro-CT images of the femoral drill hole. The DM 100 group had better bone healing tendencies (bone mineral density, bone mass, trabecular volume, bone surface, and trabecular thickness) than the DM 20 group.

CONCLUSION

DM-loaded HA scaffolds are suitable platforms for distributing bioactive molecules during osteogenesis in femoral drill holes.

Care and Management of Voice Change for Thyroid Surgery: Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics Clinical Practice Guideline

Voice change is a common complaint after thyroid surgery and has significant impacts on quality of life. The Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics, and Logopedics set up a task force team to establish guideline recommendations on education, care, and management related to thyroid surgery. The guideline recommendations include preoperative voice education, management of anticipated voice change during surgery, and comprehensive voice care after thyroid surgery, including in-depth information and up-to-date knowledge based on validated literature. The committee constructed 14 key questions (KQ) in three categories: preoperative (KQ1-2), intraoperative (KQ 3-8), and postoperative (KQ 9-14) management and developed 18 evidence-based recommendations. The Delphi survey reached an agreement on each recommendation. Detailed evidence profiles are presented for each recommendation. The level of evidence for each recommendation is classified into high, moderate, and low-quality. The recommendation's strengths are adjusted to consider the level of evidence resulting in the recommendation and are divided into strong and weak. The guidelines are primarily targeted toward physicians who treat thyroid surgery patients and speech-language pathologists participating in patient care. These guidelines will also help primary care physicians, nurses, healthcare policymakers, and patients improve their understanding of voice changes and voice care after thyroid surgery.

Pharmacologic interventions for postoperative nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of pharmacologic interventions for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

Design

Systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA).

Data sources

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar.

Eligibility criteria, participants, and interventions

Randomized clinical trials that investigated the efficacy of pharmacologic interventions in preventing PONV in patients undergoing thyroidectomy were included. The primary endpoints were the incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), postoperative nausea (PON), postoperative vomiting (POV), use of rescue antiemetics, and incidence of complete response in the overall postoperative phases. The secondary endpoints were the same parameters assessed in the early, middle, and late postoperative phases. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values and rankograms were used to present the hierarchy of pharmacologic interventions.

Results

Twenty-six studies (n = 3,467 patients) that investigated 17 different pharmacologic interventions were included. According to the SUCRA values, the incidence of PONV among the overall postoperative phases was lowest with propofol alone (16.1%), followed by palonosetron (27.5%), and with tropisetron (28.7%). The incidence of PON among the overall postoperative phases was lowest with propofol alone (11.8%), followed by tropisetron and propofol combination (14%), and ramosetron and dexamethasone combination (18.0%). The incidence of POV among the overall postoperative phases was lowest with tropisetron and propofol combination (2.2%), followed by ramosetron and dexamethasone combination (23.2%), and tropisetron alone (37.3%). The least usage of rescue antiemetics among the overall postoperative phases and the highest complete response was observed with tropisetron and propofol combination (3.9% and 96.6%, respectively).

Conclusion

Propofol and tropisetron alone and in combination, and the ramosetron and dexamethasone combination effectively prevented PONV, PON, POV in patients undergoing thyroidectomy, with some heterogeneity observed in this NMA of full-text reports. Their use minimized the need for rescue antiemetics and enhanced the complete response.

Trial registration number

CRD42018100002.

Drugs for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults after general anaesthesia: a network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common adverse effect of anaesthesia and surgery. Up to 80% of patients may be affected. These outcomes are a major cause of patient dissatisfaction and may lead to prolonged hospital stay and higher costs of care along with more severe complications. Many antiemetic drugs are available for prophylaxis. They have various mechanisms of action and side effects, but there is still uncertainty about which drugs are most effective with the fewest side effects.

OBJECTIVES

• To compare the efficacy and safety of different prophylactic pharmacologic interventions (antiemetic drugs) against no treatment, against placebo, or against each other (as monotherapy or combination prophylaxis) for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults undergoing any type of surgery under general anaesthesia • To generate a clinically useful ranking of antiemetic drugs (monotherapy and combination prophylaxis) based on efficacy and safety • To identify the best dose or dose range of antiemetic drugs in terms of efficacy and safety SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP), ClinicalTrials.gov, and reference lists of relevant systematic reviews. The first search was performed in November 2017 and was updated in April 2020. In the update of the search, 39 eligible studies were found that were not included in the analysis (listed as awaiting classification).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing effectiveness or side effects of single antiemetic drugs in any dose or combination against each other or against an inactive control in adults undergoing any type of surgery under general anaesthesia. All antiemetic drugs belonged to one of the following substance classes: 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists, D₂ receptor antagonists, NK₁ receptor antagonists, corticosteroids, antihistamines, and anticholinergics. No language restrictions were applied. Abstract publications were excluded.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

A review team of 11 authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and risk of bias and subsequently extracted data. We performed pair-wise meta-analyses for drugs of direct interest (amisulpride, aprepitant, casopitant, dexamethasone, dimenhydrinate, dolasetron, droperidol, fosaprepitant, granisetron, haloperidol, meclizine, methylprednisolone, metoclopramide, ondansetron, palonosetron, perphenazine, promethazine, ramosetron, rolapitant, scopolamine, and tropisetron) compared to placebo (inactive control). We performed network meta-analyses (NMAs) to estimate the relative effects and ranking (with placebo as reference) of all available single drugs and combinations. Primary outcomes were vomiting within 24 hours postoperatively, serious adverse events (SAEs), and any adverse event (AE). Secondary outcomes were drug class-specific side effects (e.g. headache), mortality, early and late vomiting, nausea, and complete response. We performed subgroup network meta-analysis with dose of drugs as a moderator variable using dose ranges based on previous consensus recommendations. We assessed certainty of evidence of NMA treatment effects for all primary outcomes and drug class-specific side effects according to GRADE (CINeMA, Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis). We restricted GRADE assessment to single drugs of direct interest compared to placebo.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 585 studies (97,516 randomized participants). Most of these studies were small (median sample size of 100); they were published between 1965 and 2017 and were primarily conducted in Asia (51%), Europe (25%), and North America (16%). Mean age of the overall population was 42 years. Most participants were women (83%), had American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II (70%), received perioperative opioids (88%), and underwent gynaecologic (32%) or gastrointestinal surgery (19%) under general anaesthesia using volatile anaesthetics (88%). In this review, 44 single drugs and 51 drug combinations were compared. Most studies investigated only single drugs (72%) and included an inactive control arm (66%). The three most investigated single drugs in this review were ondansetron (246 studies), dexamethasone (120 studies), and droperidol (97 studies). Almost all studies (89%) reported at least one efficacy outcome relevant for this review. However, only 56% reported at least one relevant safety outcome. Altogether, 157 studies (27%) were assessed as having overall low risk of bias, 101 studies (17%) overall high risk of bias, and 327 studies (56%) overall unclear risk of bias. Vomiting within 24 hours postoperatively Relative effects from NMA for vomiting within 24 hours (282 RCTs, 50,812 participants, 28 single drugs, and 36 drug combinations) suggest that 29 out of 36 drug combinations and 10 out of 28 single drugs showed a clinically important benefit (defined as the upper end of the 95% confidence interval (CI) below a risk ratio (RR) of 0.8) compared to placebo. Combinations of drugs were generally more effective than single drugs in preventing vomiting. However, single NK₁ receptor antagonists showed treatment effects similar to most of the drug combinations. High-certainty evidence suggests that the following single drugs reduce vomiting (ordered by decreasing efficacy): aprepitant (RR 0.26, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.38, high certainty, rank 3/28 of single drugs); ramosetron (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.59, high certainty, rank 5/28); granisetron (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.54, high certainty, rank 6/28); dexamethasone (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.57, high certainty, rank 8/28); and ondansetron (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.60, high certainty, rank 13/28). Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that the following single drugs probably reduce vomiting: fosaprepitant (RR 0.06, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.21, moderate certainty, rank 1/28) and droperidol (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.69, moderate certainty, rank 20/28). Recommended and high doses of granisetron, dexamethasone, ondansetron, and droperidol showed clinically important benefit, but low doses showed no clinically important benefit. Aprepitant was used mainly at high doses, ramosetron at recommended doses, and fosaprepitant at doses of 150 mg (with no dose recommendation available). Frequency of SAEs Twenty-eight RCTs were included in the NMA for SAEs (10,766 participants, 13 single drugs, and eight drug combinations). The certainty of evidence for SAEs when using one of the best and most reliable anti-vomiting drugs (aprepitant, ramosetron, granisetron, dexamethasone, ondansetron, and droperidol compared to placebo) ranged from very low to low. Droperidol (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.08 to 9.71, low certainty, rank 6/13) may reduce SAEs. We are uncertain about the effects of aprepitant (RR 1.39, 95% CI 0.26 to 7.36, very low certainty, rank 11/13), ramosetron (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.05 to 15.74, very low certainty, rank 7/13), granisetron (RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.11 to 13.15, very low certainty, rank 10/13), dexamethasone (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.28 to 4.85, very low certainty, rank 9/13), and ondansetron (RR 1.62, 95% CI 0.32 to 8.10, very low certainty, rank 12/13). No studies reporting SAEs were available for fosaprepitant. Frequency of any AE Sixty-one RCTs were included in the NMA for any AE (19,423 participants, 15 single drugs, and 11 drug combinations). The certainty of evidence for any AE when using one of the best and most reliable anti-vomiting drugs (aprepitant, ramosetron, granisetron, dexamethasone, ondansetron, and droperidol compared to placebo) ranged from very low to moderate. Granisetron (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.05, moderate certainty, rank 7/15) probably has no or little effect on any AE. Dexamethasone (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.08, low certainty, rank 2/15) and droperidol (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.98, low certainty, rank 6/15) may reduce any AE. Ondansetron (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.01, low certainty, rank 9/15) may have little or no effect on any AE. We are uncertain about the effects of aprepitant (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.97, very low certainty, rank 3/15) and ramosetron (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.54, very low certainty, rank 11/15) on any AE. No studies reporting any AE were available for fosaprepitant. Class-specific side effects For class-specific side effects (headache, constipation, wound infection, extrapyramidal symptoms, sedation, arrhythmia, and QT prolongation) of relevant substances, the certainty of evidence for the best and most reliable anti-vomiting drugs mostly ranged from very low to low. Exceptions were that ondansetron probably increases headache (RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.28, moderate certainty, rank 18/23) and probably reduces sedation (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.96, moderate certainty, rank 5/24) compared to placebo. The latter effect is limited to recommended and high doses of ondansetron. Droperidol probably reduces headache (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.86, moderate certainty, rank 5/23) compared to placebo. We have high-certainty evidence that dexamethasone (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.09, high certainty, rank 16/24) has no effect on sedation compared to placebo. No studies assessed substance class-specific side effects for fosaprepitant. Direction and magnitude of network effect estimates together with level of evidence certainty are graphically summarized for all pre-defined GRADE-relevant outcomes and all drugs of direct interest compared to placebo in http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4066353.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found high-certainty evidence that five single drugs (aprepitant, ramosetron, granisetron, dexamethasone, and ondansetron) reduce vomiting, and moderate-certainty evidence that two other single drugs (fosaprepitant and droperidol) probably reduce vomiting, compared to placebo. Four of the six substance classes (5-HT₃ receptor antagonists, D₂ receptor antagonists, NK₁ receptor antagonists, and corticosteroids) were thus represented by at least one drug with important benefit for prevention of vomiting. Combinations of drugs were generally more effective than the corresponding single drugs in preventing vomiting. NK₁ receptor antagonists were the most effective drug class and had comparable efficacy to most of the drug combinations. 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists were the best studied substance class. For most of the single drugs of direct interest, we found only very low to low certainty evidence for safety outcomes such as occurrence of SAEs, any AE, and substance class-specific side effects. Recommended and high doses of granisetron, dexamethasone, ondansetron, and droperidol were more effective than low doses for prevention of vomiting. Dose dependency of side effects was rarely found due to the limited number of studies, except for the less sedating effect of recommended and high doses of ondansetron. The results of the review are transferable mainly to patients at higher risk of nausea and vomiting (i.e. healthy women undergoing inhalational anaesthesia and receiving perioperative opioids). Overall study quality was limited, but certainty assessments of effect estimates consider this limitation. No further efficacy studies are needed as there is evidence of moderate to high certainty for seven single drugs with relevant benefit for prevention of vomiting. However, additional studies are needed to investigate potential side effects of these drugs and to examine higher-risk patient populations (e.g. individuals with diabetes and heart disease).

The effect of dexamethasone on pain control after thyroid surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

The effect of dexamethasone on postoperative pain after thyroid surgery remains controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of dexamethasone versus placebo on postoperative pain after thyroid surgery.

METHODS

We search PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through May 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of dexamethasone versus placebo on postoperative pain after thyroid surgery. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model.

RESULTS

Eight RCTs involving 734 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control group for thyroid surgery, dexamethasone shows significantly reduced pain scores (SMD = - 0.82; 95% CI - 1.08 to - 0.56; P < 0.00001), number of required analgesics (OR = 0.18; 95% CI 0.11-0.31; P < 0.00001), analgesic consumption (SMD = - 0.38; 95% CI - 0.63 to - 0.13; P = 0.003), nausea and vomiting (OR = 0.38; 95% CI 0.17-0.86; P = 0.02), as well as rescue antiemetics (OR = 0.40; 95% CI 0.20-0.79; P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative dexamethasone is effective to reduce the pain, nausea and vomiting after thyroid surgery.

A Perioperative Small Dose of Dexamethasone Enhances Postoperative Recovery by Reducing Volume and Inflammatory Contents in Wound Drainage After Thyroid Surgery: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

The aims of this study were to assess the effect of perioperative dexamethasone on postoperative thyroid surgery recovery using measures of wound drainage volume and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and leukocyte counts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January to September 2014, healthy patients, aged between 18 and 65 years, had elective thyroid surgery in the tertiary hospital. Eligible patients were randomized into either group D (dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg IV) or group S (saline IV) after anesthesia induction. At the end of surgery, a drainage tube was placed at the thyroid bed with a negative pressure ball connected outside the wound. Drainage fluids were collected after thyroid surgery. The fluid volume and the levels of C-reactive protein and leukocyte counts inside were analyzed. All patients were followed up for 1 month.

RESULTS

The median total drainage in group D (n = 103) was 43 ml (IQR: 21-83 ml), and 68 ml (IQR: 35-104 ml) in group S (n = 111), P = 0.002. More patients in group D were discharged on postoperative day 2 (74.8% vs. 54.1%, P = 0.002). The CRP levels and leukocyte counts were much less in group D than in group S (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). Two patients (one in each group) had wound infections 1 week after surgery that healed one additional week later.

CONCLUSIONS

One perioperative small dose of dexamethasone reduced wound drainage volume and inflammatory content after thyroid surgery, thereby possibly contributing to early recovery. The effects of dexamethasone have never been evaluated before under these conditions.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02304250 ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov ).

Role of Prophylactic Dexamethasone Before Thyroidectomy in Reducing Postoperative Pain, Nausea and Vomiting

Introduction Post-operative nausea, vomiting (PONV) and pain are the most frequently encountered complains after thyroid surgery. Steroids effectively reduce pain, nausea, and inflammation, therefore prophylactic administration of steroids improve these outcomes. The aim of our study was to compare the prophylactic administration of dexamethasone with placebo in terms of PONV and pain. Patients and methods We conducted a double-blinded randomized controlled trial including 100 patients who underwent thyroid surgery from January 2017 to December 2017 in Surgical Unit-I of the Holy Family hospital, Pakistan. The outcome in terms of post-operative pain, nausea and vomiting were measured. Results The mean age of the patients was 39.62 ± 12.73 years in group A, while in group B it was 39.06 ± 13.25 years. Out of the 100 patients included in our trial, 52 (52%) patients were males and 48 (48%) patients were females. The mean value of pain in group A patients was 1.60 ± 1.26, while in group B it was 3.60 ± 1.94. A statistically significant difference was found between the study groups with regard to the pain score of the patients i.e. p-value = 0.001. The PONV was found in 28 patients from group A and 19 patients from group B and no significant improvement was seen (p-value = 0.071). Conclusion A single dose of prophylactic dexamethasone significantly reduces the mean pain score in patients undergoing thyroidectomy; however, insignificant relation was noted in terms of PONV condition.

Adverse side effects of dexamethasone in surgical patients

BACKGROUND

In the perioperative period, dexamethasone is widely and effectively used for prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), for pain management, and to facilitate early discharge after ambulatory surgery.Long-term treatment with steroids has many side effects, such as adrenal insufficiency, increased infection risk, hyperglycaemia, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and development of diabetes mellitus. However, whether a single steroid load during surgery has negative effects during the postoperative period has not yet been studied.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of a steroid load of dexamethasone on postoperative systemic or wound infection, delayed wound healing, and blood glucose change in adult surgical patients (with planned subgroup analysis of patients with and without diabetes).

SEARCH METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), in the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science for relevant articles on 29 January 2018. We searched without language or date restriction two clinical trial registries to identify ongoing studies, and we handsearched the reference lists of relevant publications to identify all eligible trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We searched for randomized controlled trials comparing an incidental steroid load of dexamethasone versus a control intervention for adult patients undergoing surgery. We required that studies include a follow-up of 30 days for proper assessment of the number of postoperative infections, delayed wound healing, and the glycaemic response.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened studies for eligibility, extracted data from relevant studies, and assessed all included studies for bias. We resolved differences by discussion and pooled included studies in a meta-analysis. We calculated Peto odds ratios (ORs) for dichotomous outcomes and mean differences (MDs) for continuous outcomes. Our primary outcomes were postoperative systemic or wound infection, delayed wound healing, and glycaemic response within 24 hours. We created a funnel plot for the primary outcome postoperative (wound or systemic) infection. We used GRADE to assess the quality of evidence for each outcome.

MAIN RESULTS

We included in the meta-analysis 37 studies that included adults undergoing a large variety of surgical procedures (i.e. abdominal surgery, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and orthopaedic surgery). We excluded one previously included study, as this study was recently retracted. Age range of participants was 18 to 80 years. There is probably little or no difference in the risk of postoperative (wound or systemic) infection with dexamethasone compared with no treatment, placebo, or active control (ramosetron, ondansetron, or tropisetron) (Peto OR 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80 to 1.27; 4603 participants, 26 studies; I² = 32%; moderate-quality evidence). The effects of dexamethasone on delayed wound healing are unclear because the wide confidence interval includes both meaningful benefit and harm (Peto OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.28 to 3.43; 1072 participants, eight studies; I² = 0%; low-quality evidence). Dexamethasone may produce a mild increase in glucose levels among participants without diabetes during the first 12 hours after surgery (MD 13 mg/dL, 95% CI 6 to 21; 10 studies; 595 participants; I² = 50%; low-quality evidence). We identified two studies reporting on glycaemic response after dexamethasone in participants with diabetes within 24 hours after surgery (MD 32 mg/dL, 95% CI 15 to 49; 74 participants; I² = 0%; very low-quality evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

A single dose of dexamethasone probably does not increase the risk for postoperative infection. It is uncertain whether dexamethasone has an effect on delayed wound healing in the general surgical population owing to imprecision in trial results. Participants with increased risk for delayed wound healing (e.g. participants with diabetes, those taking immunosuppressive drugs) were not included in the randomized studies reporting on delayed wound healing included in this meta-analysis; therefore our findings should be extrapolated to the clinical setting with caution. Furthermore, one has to keep in mind that dexamethasone induces a mild increase in glucose. For patients with diabetes, very limited evidence suggests a more pronounced increase in glucose. Whether this influences wound healing in a clinically relevant way remains to be established. Once assessed, the two studies awaiting classification and three that are ongoing may alter the conclusions of this review.

Preoperative dexamethasone for acute post-thoracotomy analgesia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Background

The analgesic effects of dexamethasone have been reported previously, and the present study determined the effects of preoperative dexamethasone on postoperative pain in patients who received thoracotomy.

Methods

Forty patients participated in this randomized, double-blind study. All patients received either dexamethasone via a 0.1 mg/kg intravenous bolus before anesthetic induction or an equal volume of saline. Postoperative analgesia was provided to both groups via epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), which consisted of 250 μg of sufentanil in 250 mL of ropivacaine (0.18%) for 72 h. The primary outcome was the cumulative consumption of epidural PCA at postoperative 24 and 72 h. The secondary outcomes were the pain intensity scores during resting and coughing at postoperative 24 and 72 h, quality of recovery, total amount of rescue analgesics required, and length of hospital stay.

Results

No significant differences was observed in the consumption of epidural PCA between the control and dexamethasone infusion groups at 24 h (63.6 [55.9–72.7] vs. 68.5 [60.2–89.0] ml, P = 0.281) and 72 h (199.4 [172.4–225.1] vs. 194.7 [169.1–252.2] ml, P = 0.890). Moreover, there was no significant difference in the pain intensity scores during resting and coughing at postoperative 24 and 72 h, quality of recovery, total amount of rescue analgesics required, and length of hospital stay.

Conclusion

A single intravenous administration of dexamethasone during the preoperative period does not reduce opioid consumption and post-thoracotomy pain.

Trial registration

The study was registered at http://cris.nih.go.kr (KCT0000359) and was conducted from December 2011 to October 2012.

Effect of single-dose intravenous dexamethasone on subjective voice quality after thyroidectomy: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Corticosteroids are widely used to treat voice change after thyroidectomy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of a single dose of intravenous dexamethasone after thyroidectomy using a metaanalysis.

METHODS

Relevant studies were identified by searching the following databases: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane through February 2017. We followed PRISMA guidelines. The following search terms were used: "thyroidectomy," "voice," "steroid." Random-effects models were used to estimate standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Our search yielded one retrospective cohort study involving 122 thyroidectomy patients and 3 randomized controlled studies involving 242 thyroidectomy patients. The pooled SMD for voice quality after thyroidectomy was -0.80 (P < .05). Subgroup analysis showed significant voice quality change 1 day after administration of dexamethasone.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-dose intravenous dexamethasone after thyroidectomy significantly improves subjective voice quality on day 1. The effect was not different significantly after day 1.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 2a.

Adverse side effects of dexamethasone in surgical patients

BACKGROUND

In the perioperative period, dexamethasone is widely and effectively used for prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), for pain management, and to facilitate early discharge after ambulatory surgery.Long-term treatment with steroids has many side effects, such as adrenal insufficiency, increased infection risk, hyperglycaemia, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and development of diabetes mellitus. However, whether a single steroid load during surgery has negative effects during the postoperative period has not yet been studied.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of a steroid load of dexamethasone on postoperative systemic or wound infection, delayed wound healing, and blood glucose change in adult surgical patients (with planned subgroup analysis of patients with and without diabetes).

SEARCH METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), in the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science for relevant articles on 29 January 2018. We searched without language or date restriction two clinical trial registries to identify ongoing studies, and we handsearched the reference lists of relevant publications to identify all eligible trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We searched for randomized controlled trials comparing an incidental steroid load of dexamethasone versus a control intervention for adult patients undergoing surgery. We required that studies include a follow-up of 30 days for proper assessment of the number of postoperative infections, delayed wound healing, and the glycaemic response.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened studies for eligibility, extracted data from relevant studies, and assessed all included studies for bias. We resolved differences by discussion and pooled included studies in a meta-analysis. We calculated Peto odds ratios (ORs) for dichotomous outcomes and mean differences (MDs) for continuous outcomes. Our primary outcomes were postoperative systemic or wound infection, delayed wound healing, and glycaemic response within 24 hours. We created a funnel plot for the primary outcome postoperative (wound or systemic) infection. We used GRADE to assess the quality of evidence for each outcome.

MAIN RESULTS

We included in the meta-analysis 38 studies that included adults undergoing a large variety of surgical procedures (i.e. abdominal surgery, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and orthopaedic surgery). Age range of participants was 18 to 80 years. There is probably little or no difference in the risk of postoperative (wound or systemic) infection with dexamethasone compared with no treatment, placebo, or active control (ramosetron, ondansetron, or tropisetron) (Peto OR 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80 to 1.27; 4931 participants, 27 studies; I² = 27%; moderate-quality evidence). The effects of dexamethasone on delayed wound healing are unclear because the wide confidence interval includes both meaningful benefit and harm (Peto OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.28 to 3.43; 1072 participants, eight studies; I² = 0%; low-quality evidence). Dexamethasone may produce a mild increase in glucose levels among participants without diabetes during the first 12 hours after surgery (MD 13 mg/dL, 95% CI 6 to 21; 10 studies; 595 participants; I² = 50%; low-quality evidence). We identified two studies reporting on glycaemic response after dexamethasone in participants with diabetes within 24 hours after surgery (MD 32 mg/dL, 95% CI 15 to 49; 74 participants; I² = 0%; very low-quality evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

A single dose of dexamethasone probably does not increase the risk for postoperative infection. It is uncertain whether dexamethasone has an effect on delayed wound healing in the general surgical population owing to imprecision in trial results. Participants with increased risk for delayed wound healing (e.g. participants with diabetes, those taking immunosuppressive drugs) were not included in the randomized studies reporting on delayed wound healing included in this meta-analysis; therefore our findings should be extrapolated to the clinical setting with caution. Furthermore, one has to keep in mind that dexamethasone induces a mild increase in glucose. For patients with diabetes, very limited evidence suggests a more pronounced increase in glucose. Whether this influences wound healing in a clinically relevant way remains to be established. Once assessed, the three studies awaiting classification and two that are ongoing may alter the conclusions of this review.

Intraoperative Corticosteroids for Voice Outcomes among Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective

To determine if a preoperative dose of intravenous corticosteroids reduces the risk of postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and improves subjective voice outcomes among patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

Data Sources

PubMed, Cochrane database, and EMBASE.

Review Methods

Randomized controlled trials comparing corticosteroids with placebo on voice outcomes in thyroid surgery were extracted with standardized search criteria. Systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. With random effects models, trial data were pooled to determine the overall rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy as well as secondary outcomes of adverse events, including wound infection and hyperglycemia.

Results

Four studies with a total of 517 patients met inclusion criteria. The overall rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was 5.78%. There was no difference in the rate of palsy between the corticosteroid and placebo groups (risk ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.34-1.44). There was also no difference between the groups in regard to wound infection, healing, or hyperglycemia.

Conclusions

Preoperative corticosteroids do not appear to reduce the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy following thyroid surgery. There is insufficient evidence to assess its effect on subjective voice outcomes. More robust randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of perioperative steroids in improving voice outcomes after thyroidectomy.

A Narrative Review of the Evidence on the Efficacy of Dexamethasone on Postoperative Analgesic Consumption

OBJECTIVES

The effect of dexamethasone on analgesic consumption has not been adequately studied. The aim of this review was to investigate recent literature regarding the possible effect of dexamethasone on postoperative analgesic consumption.

METHODS

Critical review of randomized trials and prospective consecutive studies investigating the postoperative analgesic effect of dexamethasone was performed. Only studies published during 2006 to 2015 were included.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies met the inclusion criteria; 33 in adults and 8 in children (9 in general surgery, 8 in gynecologic/breast surgery, 8 in orthopedic/spinal surgery, 8 in head/neck surgery, 7 in children's tonsillectomy, and 1 in children's orchiopexy). Literature review demonstrated that dexamethasone can decrease analgesic requirements in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies, laparoscopic gynecologic and breast surgery; whereas there is no consensus regarding orthopedic procedures, with positive evidence mostly regarding spinal surgeries. The efficacy of dexamethasone during head and neck surgery is not conclusive; however, its use before thyroid surgery may be beneficial. In children a beneficial impact of dexamethasone administration was revealed on posttonsillectomy reduction of analgesic needs. Studies on other kinds of operations in children are lacking.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexamethasone administered at a dose of 8 mg before surgical incision may be beneficial in laparoscopic cholecystectomies, thyroid, laparoscopic gynecologic and breast surgery, and tonsillectomies in children. Dexamethasone's potential impact on reducing postoperative analgesic requirements should be investigated in more detail in a systematic manner, to support its use in other kinds of operations.

A Comparative Randomized Trial on the Optimal Timing of Dexamethasone for Pain Relief after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Neoplasm

Background/Aims

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effects of preoperative and postoperative dexamethasone on pain after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric neoplasm.

Methods

Forty patients with early gastric neoplasm who were scheduled for ESD were randomized into two groups according to the timing of steroid administration: preoperative (“pre”, n=20) and postoperative (“post”, n=20) steroid administration. The pre group received 0.15 mg/kg dexamethasone before ESD and placebo after, and the post group received pre-ESD placebo and post-ESD dexamethasone. The present pain intensity (PPI) index and the short-form McGill pain (SF-MP) questionnaire were evaluated.

Results

The primary outcome was PPI score at 6 hours after ESD. There was a greater reduction in 6-hour PPI in the pre group than in the post group (2.1±0.8 vs 3.0±1.1, respectively; p=0.006). The immediate PPI was also significantly lower in the pre group than in the post group (1.6±0.6 vs 2.9±0.6, respectively; p<0.001), and the total SF-MP scores were significantly lower in the pre group than in the post group both immediately and at 6 hours after the operation.

Conclusions

Preoperative administration of dexamethasone may produce a superior analgesic effect in patients who undergo ESD compared with the postoperative administration of dexamethasone.

Postoperative analgesic effect, of preoperatively administered dexamethasone, after operative fixation of fractured neck of femur: randomised, double blinded controlled study

BACKGROUND

Fractured neck of femur is a common cause of hospital admission in the elderly and usually requires operative fixation. In a variety of clinical settings, preoperative glucocorticoid administration has improved analgesia and decreased opioid consumption. Our objective was to define the postoperative analgesic efficacy of single dose of dexamethasone administered preoperatively in patients undergoing operative fixation of fractured neck of femur.

METHODS

Institutional ethical approval was granted and written informed consent was obtained from each patient. Patients awaiting for surgery at Cork University Hospital were recruited between July 2009 and August 2012. Participating patients, scheduled for surgery were randomly allocated to one of two groups (Dexamethasone or Placebo). Patients in the dexamethasone group received a single dose of intravenous dexamethasone 0.1 mg kg ^-1 immediately preoperatively. Patients in the placebo group received the same volume of normal saline. Patients underwent operative fixation of fractured neck of femur using standardised spinal anaesthesia and surgical techniques. The primary outcome was pain scores at rest 6 h after the surgery.

RESULTS

Thirty seven patients were recruited and data from thirty patients were analysed. The groups were similar in terms of patient characteristics. Pain scores at rest 6 h after the surgery (the principal outcome) were lesser in the dexamethasone group compared with the placebo group [0.8(1.3) vs. 3.9(2.9), mean(SD) p = 0.0004]. Cumulative morphine consumption 24 h after the surgery was also lesser in the dexamethasone group [7.7(8.3) vs. 15.1(9.4), mean(SD) mg, p = 0.04].

CONCLUSIONS

A single dose of intravenous dexamethasone 0.1 mg kg ^-1 administered before operative fixation of fractured neck of femur improve significantly the early postoperative analgesia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01550146 , date of registration: 07/03/2012.

Factors Associated With Attrition in Randomized Controlled Trials of Vocal Rehabilitation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

This study aimed to determine the dropout rates and the reasons for dropout in randomized clinical trials of vocal rehabilitation.

STUDY DESIGN

This study used systematic review and meta-analysis (CRD42013003807).

METHODS

We included randomized controlled trials for voice disorders. In June 2015, we searched the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, Clinical Trials, and AJSLP. The titles and abstracts or full texts of articles were independently analyzed by two reviewers. Study quality was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) scale. Our initial research base included more than 8491 articles.

RESULTS

A total of 51 articles were obtained using our eligibility criteria. The low-quality studies evaluated had higher dropout rates (odds ratio: 3.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-12.9). Studies with healthy patients (45%) or vocal training versus no training (25%) also had higher dropout rates. Methodological issues seemed to have a greater influence on the dropout rates of the studies included in the co-occurrence matrix.

CONCLUSIONS

Dropout rates of approximately 15% occur in randomized clinical trials of speech therapy when assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Studies with lower methodological quality had higher patient loss rates. Methodological and clinical reasons accounted for the highest dropout rates in the studies included in this meta-analysis.

Effect of Palonosetron, Dexamethasone, or Palonosetron and Dexamethasone in Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Highly Susceptible Thyroidectomy Patients: A Randomized Trial

Our study aimed to compare the efficacy of dexamethasone added to palonosetron to both palonosetron and dexamethasone monotherapy for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in highly susceptible patients receiving opioid-based, intravenous patient-controlled analgesia after thyroidectomy. Nonsmoking women who underwent total thyroidectomy were randomly allocated to either the dexamethasone group (Group D), the palonosetron group (Group P), or to the dexamethasone plus palonosetron group (Group DP). The severity of nausea and pain, the number of episodes of vomiting, the administrations of rescue anti-emetics, and the side effects of the antiemetics were documented in the recovery room at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. The severity of nausea was lowest in Group DP, followed by Group P and Group D. But there was an overall difference only between Group D and Group DP. The overall differences in the time to the first administration of the rescue antiemetic were observed in a Kaplan-Meier analysis (P = 0.017), noting a significant difference between Group D and Group DP (P = 0.003). The combination of dexamethasone and palonosetron decreased the severity of nausea and increased the time to the first antiemetic dose compared with using dexamethasone or palonosetron alone in nausea-susceptible patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

Clinical Pathway for Thyroidectomy

Clinical pathways are care plans applicable to patient care procedures that present variations in practice and a predictable clinical course. They are designed not as a substitute for clinical judgment, but rather as a means to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the procedures. This clinical pathway is the result of a collaborative work of the Sections of Endocrine Surgery and Quality Management of the Spanish Association of Surgeons. It attempts to provide a framework for standardizing the performance of thyroidectomy, the most frequently performed operation in endocrine surgery. Along with the usual documents of clinical pathways (temporary matrix, variance tracking and information sheets, assessment indicators and a satisfaction questionnaire) it includes a review of the scientific evidence around different aspects of pre, intra and postoperative management. Among others, antibiotic and antithrombotic prophylaxis, preoperative preparation in hyperthyroidism, intraoperative neuromonitoring and systems for obtaining hemostasis are included, along with management of postoperative hypocalcemia.

Comparison of ramosetron plus dexamethasone with ramosetron alone on postoperative nausea, vomiting, shivering and pain after thyroid surgery

BACKGROUND

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), postanesthetic shivering and pain are common postoperative patient complaints that can result in adverse physical and psychological outcomes. Some antiemetics are reported to be effective in the management of postoperative pain and shivering, as well as PONV. We evaluated the efficacy of dexamethasone added to ramosetron on PONV, shivering and pain after thyroid surgery.

METHODS

One hundred and eight patients scheduled for thyroid surgery were randomly allocated to three different groups: the control group (group C, n = 36), the ramosetron group (group R, n = 36), or the ramosetron plus dexamethasone group (group RD, n = 36). The patients were treated intravenously with 1 and 2 ml of 0.9% NaCl (group C); or 2 ml of 0.15 mg/ml ramosetron plus 1 ml of 0.9% NaCl (group R); or 2 ml of 0.15 mg/ml ramosetron plus 1 ml of 5 mg/ml dexamethasone (group RD) immediately after anesthesia.

RESULTS

Incidence of nausea and the need for rescue antiemetics, verbal rating scale (VRS) 1 hour pain value, ketorolac consumption, and incidence of shivering were significantly lower in group R and group RD, than in group C (P < 0.05). Moreover, these parameters were significantly lower in group RD than in group R (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Combination of ramosetron and dexamethasone significantly reduced not only the incidence of nausea and need for rescue antiemetics, but also the VRS 1 hour pain value, ketorolac consumption, and the incidence of shivering compared to ramosetron alone in patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

Dexamethasone reduces nausea and vomiting but not pain after thyroid surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication after thyroidectomy. The aim of this article was to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone for prevention of PONV and pain in patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed this meta-analysis based on the QUORUM (Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses) guidelines. Our study included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared preoperative single-dose administration of dexamethasone with no dexamethasone in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. The primary outcome was occurrence and severity of PONV, and the secondary outcomes included pain, use of analgesics, and steroid-related complications.

RESULTS

Seven RCTs were included, with a total of 611 patients. A statistically and clinically significant difference in the incidence and severity of PONV was found in favor of dexamethasone (SMD, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.13-0.41; P<0.00001; SMD, 0.53; 95% CI, -1.03 to -0.03; P=0.04). However, there was no significant difference in reduction of pain severity and analgesic consumption in using dexamethasone (SMD, -0.83; 95% CI, -1.85 to 0.18; P=0.14; SMD, -0.19; 95% CI, -0.43 to 0.04; P=0.10). No steroid-related complications were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

A single preoperative administration of dexamethasone reduced the incidence and severity of PONV but not pain severity and analgesic consumption in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to further explore the efficacy of dexamethasone on postoperative pain severity and analgesic consumption.

The impact of prophylactic dexamethasone on nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of prophylactic dexamethasone on post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), post-operative pain, and complications in patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

METHODS

We searched Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the prophylactic effect of dexamethasone versus placebo with or without other antiemetics for PONV in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.0 software.

RESULTS

Thirteen RCTs that considered high quality evidence including 2,180 patients were analyzed. The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in the incidence of PONV (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.63, P < 0.00001), the need for rescue anti-emetics (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.57, P<0.00001), post-operative pain scores (WMD -1.17, 95% CI -1.91 to -0.44, P = 0.002), and the need for rescue analgesics (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.50-0.83, P = 0.0008) in patients receiving dexamethasone compared to placebo, with or without concomitant antiemetics. Dexamethasone 8-10mg had a significantly greater effect for reducing the incidence of PONV than dexamethasone 1.25-5mg. Dexamethasone was as effective as other anti-emetics for reducing PONV (RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.86-1.81, P = 0.24). A significantly higher level of blood glucose during the immediate post-operative period in patients receiving dexamethasone compared to controls was the only adverse event.

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylactic dexamethasone 8-10mg administered intravenously before induction of anesthesia should be recommended as a safe and effective strategy for reducing the incidence of PONV, the need for rescue anti-emetics, post-operative pain, and the need for rescue analgesia in thyroidectomy patients, except those that are pregnant, have diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, or contraindications for dexamethasone. More high quality trials are warranted to define the benefits and risks of prophylactic dexamethasone in potential patients with a high risk for PONV.

Consensus guidelines for the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting

The present guidelines are the most recent data on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and an update on the 2 previous sets of guidelines published in 2003 and 2007. These guidelines were compiled by a multidisciplinary international panel of individuals with interest and expertise in PONV under the auspices of the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia. The panel members critically and systematically evaluated the current medical literature on PONV to provide an evidence-based reference tool for the management of adults and children who are undergoing surgery and are at increased risk for PONV. These guidelines identify patients at risk for PONV in adults and children; recommend approaches for reducing baseline risks for PONV; identify the most effective antiemetic single therapy and combination therapy regimens for PONV prophylaxis, including nonpharmacologic approaches; recommend strategies for treatment of PONV when it occurs; provide an algorithm for the management of individuals at increased risk for PONV as well as steps to ensure PONV prevention and treatment are implemented in the clinical setting.

Does Corticosteroid Have Any Beneficial Effect on Voice Change after Thyroidectomy?

Voice alteration is one of the most common complications after thyroidectomy. It has a serious effect on social communication and economic and psychosocial status of patients. It has been hypothesized that inflammation and edema in the surgery site has a major role in voice change after thyroidectomy. This randomized clinical trial study was design to evaluate the effect of a single preoperative dose of steroid on voice change after thyroidectomy. This is a prospective randomized clinical trial with registration no. IRCT201106306925N. From all definitive candidates for total thyroidectomy, eligible patients were selected after exclusion of 12 criteria. Selected cases were randomly allocated to two groups. One group received intravenous dexamethasone pre-operatively. Other group received placebo. Voice change was evaluated by Voice Impairment Score (VIS) postoperatively. Sixty-four patients were entered in the study and divided into two groups (dexamethasone and placebo). VIS was significantly different at the first day after surgery between dexamethasone (five) and controls (13; P < 0.001). This difference was seen after 7 days but without statistically significance (one vs three; P = 0.397). VIS score significantly decreased on the seventh day related to the first day ( P < 0.001) in both groups. There were no significant dexamethasone complications in either group. Preoperative dexamethasone may decrease voice change after thyroidectomy.

Clinical Practice Guideline

Objective

Thyroidectomy may be performed for clinical indications that include malignancy, benign nodules or cysts, suspicious findings on fine needle aspiration biopsy, dysphagia from cervical esophageal compression, or dyspnea from airway compression. About 1 in 10 patients experience temporary laryngeal nerve injury after surgery, with longer lasting voice problems in up to 1 in 25. Reduced quality of life after thyroid surgery is multifactorial and may include the need for lifelong medication, thyroid suppression, radioactive scanning/treatment, temporary and permanent hypoparathyroidism, temporary or permanent dysphonia postoperatively, and dysphagia. This clinical practice guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for management of the patient’s voice when undergoing thyroid surgery during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative period.

Purpose

The purpose of this guideline is to optimize voice outcomes for adult patients aged 18 years or older after thyroid surgery. The target audience is any clinician involved in managing such patients, which includes but may not be limited to otolaryngologists, general surgeons, endocrinologists, internists, speech-language pathologists, family physicians and other primary care providers, anesthesiologists, nurses, and others who manage patients with thyroid/voice issues. The guideline applies to any setting in which clinicians may interact with patients before, during, or after thyroid surgery. Children under age 18 years are specifically excluded from the target population; however, the panel understands that many of the findings may be applicable to this population. Also excluded are patients undergoing concurrent laryngectomy. Although this guideline is limited to thyroidectomy, some of the recommendations may extrapolate to parathyroidectomy as well.

Results

The guideline development group made a strong recommendation that the surgeon should identify the recurrent laryngeal nerve(s) during thyroid surgery. The group made recommendations that the clinician or surgeon should (1) document assessment of the patient’s voice once a decision has been made to proceed with thyroid surgery; (2) examine vocal fold mobility, or refer the patient to a clinician who can examine vocal fold mobility, if the patient’s voice is impaired and a decision has been made to proceed with thyroid surgery; (3) examine vocal fold mobility, or refer the patient to a clinician who can examine vocal fold mobility, once a decision has been made to proceed with thyroid surgery if the patient’s voice is normal and the patient has (a) thyroid cancer with suspected extrathyroidal extension, or (b) prior neck surgery that increases the risk of laryngeal nerve injury (carotid endarterectomy, anterior approach to the cervical spine, cervical esophagectomy, and prior thyroid or parathyroid surgery), or (c) both; (4) educate the patient about the potential impact of thyroid surgery on voice once a decision has been made to proceed with thyroid surgery; (5) inform the anesthesiologist of the results of abnormal preoperative laryngeal assessment in patients who have had laryngoscopy prior to thyroid surgery; (6) take steps to preserve the external branch of the surperior laryngeal nerve(s) when performing thyroid surgery; (7) document whether there has been a change in voice between 2 weeks and 2 months following thyroid surgery; (8) examine vocal fold mobility or refer the patient for examination of vocal fold mobility in patients with a change in voice following thyroid surgery; (9) refer a patient to an otolaryngologist when abnormal vocal fold mobility is identified after thyroid surgery; (10) counsel patients with voice change or abnormal vocal fold mobility after thyroid surgery on options for voice rehabilitation. The group made an option that the surgeon or his or her designee may monitor laryngeal electromyography during thyroid surgery. The group made no recommendation regarding the impact of a single intraoperative dose of intravenous corticosteroid on voice outcomes in patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

Dexamethasone effect on postoperative pain and tramadol requirement after thyroidectomy

Tramadol is a central-acting analgesic associated with nausea and vomiting. Clinical studies have demonstrated that glucocorticoids have analgesic and antiemetic effects when administered perioperatively. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that coadministration of tramadol and dexamethasone decreases both postoperative pain and tramadol requirement by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Forty female patients undergoing thyroidectomy under general anesthesia were enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled study and allocated to receive dexamethasone 4 mg i.v. (dexamethasone group, n = 20) or saline (control group, n = 20). At 0, 1, 2, 4 and 22 h of PCA, tramadol consumption and pain were evaluated. Although pain (numerical rating scale 0-10) was significantly lower in the dexamethasone group compared to the control group (2.9 ± 1.4 vs. 3.8 ± 1.2, p = 0.02) at the beginning of PCA, tramadol demand was not significantly different. Although the results herein show a possible beneficial effect of a preoperative single low dose of dexamethasone on postoperative pain, the hypothesis that this corticosteroid decreases tramadol requirement is not supported.

Ramosetron vs. ramosetron plus dexamethasone for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: prospective, randomized, and double-blind study

INTRODUCTION

Up to 75% of the patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy develop postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Both ramosetron, a serotonin subtype 3 (5-HT3) antagonist, and dexamethasone are effective for PONV prophylaxis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy but their combined effect has not been investigated. We investigated the efficacy and tolerance of ramosetron alone and ramosetron with dexamethasone for PONV prophylaxis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODS

Seventy six patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to receive either intravenous (i.v.) 0.3 mg ramosetron (group R), or 8 mg dexamethasone plus 0.3 mg ramosetron (group D). Standardized anesthesia with desflurane and remifentanil was used in all patients. Postoperative nausea, retching, vomiting, rescue antiemetics, pain scores, rescue analgesics and side effects were assessed at 0-2, 2-24 and 24-48 h postoperatively.

RESULTS

Seventy two patients were randomized. The overall incidence of PONV did not differ (p = 0.31) but fewer patients needed rescue antiemetics in group D than in groups R (3 vs. 13 patients, respectively; p = 0.01) during 0-48 h postoperatively. Additionally, pain scores were significantly lower in group D during the study period (p < 0.01) and rescue analgesics were required less often in group D during 2-48 h postoperatively (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the combined use of ramosetron and dexamethasone was more effective than ramosetron alone for reducing the need for rescue antiemetics and pain control following the procedure.

Dexamethasone to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Dexamethasone has an established role in decreasing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV); however, the optimal dexamethasone dose for reducing PONV when it is used as a single or combination prophylactic strategy has not been clearly defined. In this study, we evaluated the use of 4 mg to 5 mg and 8 mg to 10 mg IV doses of dexamethasone to prevent PONV when used as a single drug or as part of a combination preventive therapy.

METHODS

A wide search was performed to identify randomized clinical trials that evaluated systemic dexamethasone as a prophylactic drug to reduce postoperative nausea and/or vomiting. The effects of dexamethasone dose were evaluated by pooling studies into 2 groups: 4 mg to 5 mg and 8 mg to 10 mg. The first group represents the suggested dexamethasone dose to prevent PONV by the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA) guidelines, and the second group represents twice the dose range recommended by the guidelines. The SAMBA guidelines were developed in response to studies, which have been performed to examine different dosages of dexamethasone.

RESULTS

Sixty randomized clinical trials with 6696 subjects were included. The 4-mg to 5-mg dose dexamethasone group experienced reduced 24-hour PONV compared with control, odds ratio (OR, 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.41), and number needed to treat (NNT, 3.7; 95% CI, 3.0-4.7). When used together with a second antiemetic, the 4-mg to 5-mg dexamethasone group also experienced reduced 24-hour PONV compared with control (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.35-0.72; NNT, 6.6; 95% CI, 4.3-12.8). The 8-mg to 10-mg dose dexamethasone group experienced decreased 24-hour PONV compared with control (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.20-0.32; NNT, 3.8; 95% CI, 3.0-4.3). Asymmetric funnel plots were observed in the 8-mg to 10-mg dose analysis, suggesting the possibility of publication bias. When used together with a second antiemetic, the 8-mg to 10-mg dose group also experienced reduced incidence of 24-hour PONV (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.22-0.53; NNT, 6.2; 95% CI, 4.5-10). In studies that provided a direct comparison between groups, there was no clinical advantage of the 8-mg to 10-mg dexamethasone dose compared with the 4-mg to 5-mg dose on the incidence of postoperative nausea and/or vomiting.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that a 4-mg to 5-mg dose of dexamethasone seems to have similar clinical effects in the reduction of PONV as the 8-mg to 10-mg dose when dexamethasone was used as a single drug or as a combination therapy. These findings support the current recommendation of the SAMBA guidelines for PONV, which favors the 4-mg to 5-mg dose regimen of systemic dexamethasone.

Impact of perioperative dexamethasone on postoperative analgesia and side-effects: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of a single perioperative dose of dexamethasone are unclear. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the impact of a single i.v. dose of dexamethasone on postoperative pain and explore adverse events associated with this treatment.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Register were searched for randomized, controlled studies that compared dexamethasone vs placebo or an antiemetic in adult patients undergoing general anaesthesia and reported pain outcomes.

RESULTS

Forty-five studies involving 5796 patients receiving dexamethasone 1.25-20 mg were included. Patients receiving dexamethasone had lower pain scores at 2 h {mean difference (MD) -0.49 [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.83, -0.15]} and 24 h [MD -0.48 (95% CI: -0.62, -0.35)] after surgery. Dexamethasone-treated patients used less opioids at 2 h [MD -0.87 mg morphine equivalents (95% CI: -1.40 to -0.33)] and 24 h [MD -2.33 mg morphine equivalents (95% CI: -4.39, -0.26)], required less rescue analgesia for intolerable pain [relative risk 0.80 (95% CI: 0.69, 0.93)], had longer time to first dose of analgesic [MD 12.06 min (95% CI: 0.80, 23.32)], and shorter stays in the post-anaesthesia care unit [MD -5.32 min (95% CI: -10.49 to -0.15)]. There was no dose-response with regard to the opioid-sparing effect. There was no increase in infection or delayed wound healing with dexamethasone, but blood glucose levels were higher at 24 h [MD 0.39 mmol litre(-1) (95% CI: 0.04, 0.74)].

CONCLUSIONS

A single i.v. perioperative dose of dexamethasone had small but statistically significant analgesic benefits.