Pre-incisional infiltration of tonsils with dexamethasone dose not reduce posttonsillectomy vomiting and pain in children

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recently, dexamethasone has been found to have a prophylactic effect on postoperative vomiting and pain in children undergoing tonsillectomy. However, few studies have examined the preemptive analgesic effects of dexamethasone after tonsillectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-incisional infiltration of tonsils with dexamethasone on the incidence and severity of postoperative pain and vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy under general anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a double blinded study, 62 patients were randomly allocated to infiltrate dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg, maximum dose, 12 mg) or an equivalent volume of saline at the peritonsillar region. All infiltrations were performed following the induction of general anesthesia and 5 minutes prior to the onset of surgery. Anesthetic agents, end-tidal carbon dioxide levels, and the administration of intravenous fluids were carefully regulated. Surgery was performed by one attending otolaryngologists using the same dissection and snare technique. The incidence of pain and vomiting, need for rescue antiemetics, and analgesic consumption were compared in both groups. Pain scores used included Children's Hospital Eastern Ontario Pain Scale, “faces”, and a 0-10 visual analogue pain scale. RESULTS: Demographics of dexamethasone and placebo groups were similar. No statistically significant difference was found between the dexamethasone and placebo groups in pain score, nausea, vomiting, irritability, or analgesic requirement postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Preincisional infiltration of the tonsils with dexamethasone play a limited role in the recovery phase from tonsillectomy, but further prospective, randomized studies are needed to support it.