Objective : To determine whether intravenously dexamethasone on day 1 and 2 after operation can alleviate post-tonsillectomy pain.Design : Double blinded randomized controlled clinical trialSetting : Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, RTAF, Bangkok, ThailandPatients : Thirty-six consecutive patients (16 males, 20 females), aged between 5-48 years old, undergoing tonsillectomy without adenoidectomyIntervention : Patients scheduled for tonsillectomy by snare technique were randomized to receive intravenously dexamethasone or normal saline on day 1 and 2 with infiltrated single dexamethasone on tonsillar fossa on day 0.Main outcome measures : Pain scores on surgical wound, otalgia, pain on open mouth and pain on swallowing determined by a Faces Pain Scale, were obtained at 4-, 24-, 48- and 72-hour intervals after operation.Results : The two groups of patients were similar in age, gender, diagnosis and surgical procedure. Pain scores in postoperative period were not significant different (p < 0.05) at any time after surgical procedure. However, otalgia and pain on swallowing at 24-, 48-, 72-hour intervals and pain on open mouth at 72-hour interval after operation were different at p < 0.1.Conclusion : Intravenously dexamethasone did not significantly reduce post-tonsillectomy pain when compared to the placebo.

แพทยสารทหารอากาศ ปี 2553, May-August ปีที่: 56 ฉบับที่ 2 หน้า 16-20

Steroid, Post-tonsillectomy pain