Intravenous Dexamethasone Reduces Pain in Middle Ear Surgery

Introduction:Few studies evaluated the treatment of postoperative pain in middle ear surgery.Materials and Methods:We conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone in the management of postoperative pain in middle ear surgery. Group G۱ received an intravenous injection of ۲ ml of physiological saline ۳۰ minutes before the end of the procedure. Group G۲ received a ۲ ml intravenous solution containing ۸ mg of dexamethasone, ۳۰ minutes before the end of the procedure. Pain perception was measured by the Visual an alogscale (VAS) every ۱۰min during the first hour and the nevery ۶ hours during the ۲۴ hours postoperatively. The delay of the first analgesic demand and the consumption of analgesics use during the first ۲۴ hours postoperatively, were recorded.Results:VAS values were lower in G۲at all measurement points during the first hour, as well as the first ۲۴h postoperatively (Mann-Whitney test, P<۰.۰۵).The delay of the analgesic request was (۰ (۰-۶۰) for G۱ versus ۰ (۰-۸۰) for G۲, P=۰.۰۴, Mann-Whitney test). Morphine was used in ۴۴% of the patients in G۱ against ۱۹% for G۲ (P = ۰.۰۳۱). There was a significant difference between G۱ and G۲ in terms of the total dose of morphine consumed (P= ۰.۰۲۸, Mann-Whitney test). Paracetamol demand was lower in group ۲ at all points of assessment during the first ۲۴ hours postoperatively.Conclusions:Intravenous dexamethasone is effective in decreasing pain and analgesic requirement, during the first ۲۴ hours postoperatively, in patients undergoing middle ear surgery.

Keywords:

Analgesia , Dexamethasone , Middle Ear , Postoperative pain