Abstract

ACKGROUND:
Effect of intravenously administered dexamethasone in reducing the incidence and severity of post
operative sore throat in patients receiving general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation.
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of dexamthasone administered intravenously preoperative in reducing post opretive sore throat
METHODS:
80 patients receiving general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation in randomized double blinded
placebo controlled were randomly assigned to two groups: group1(control) patients receiving
normal saline 2 mLiv and group 2 (D) patients received dexamethasone 8 mg iv. After surgery,
visual analogue scale(VAS) scores at rest and with effort (swallowing movment) for post operative
sore throat were recorded.
RESULTS:
This study revealed that post operative sore throat during the first 24 hr following surgery was
lower in dexamethasone group(D) compared to the control group(C).Nine (22.4%) patients in the
dexamethasone group had postoperative sore throat, compared to 23(57.5%)patients in the control
group (p<0.01). Postoperatively at one hour,threehours, six hours, 12 hours and 24 hours, the VAS
scores for postoperative sore throat at rest and during effort were lower in dexamethasone group
(D) compared to the control group(p<0.01) at corresponding time intervals.
CONCLUSION:
Preoperative administration of dexamethasone 8mh iv reduces the incidence and severity of
postoperative sore throat in patients receiving general anesthesia with endtacheal intubation