Dexamethasone for the Prevention of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy

Università degli Studi dell'Aquila

Status: Completed

Conditions: Benign Neoplasm of Thyroid Gland; Malignant Neoplasm of Thyroid

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01690806

OTO: OTO12-0447R

Details and patient eligibility

About

Recurrent laryngeal nerve dysfunction and hypoparathyroidism are well-recognized important complications of thyroid surgery. The duration of convalescence, after non complicated thyroid operation, may depend on several factors of which pain and fatigue are the most important. Nausea and vomiting occur mainly on the day of operation. Glucocorticoids are well known for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, immune modulating and antiemetic effects. The investigators therefore undertook the present study to investigate whether preoperative dexamethasone could improve surgical outcome in patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

Enrollment: 328 patients

Sex: All

Ages: Under 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• patients undergoing thyroid surgery

Exclusion criteria

• ASA physical class III or IV
• age > 75 years
• pregnancy

Trial design

328 participants in 2 patient groups

dexamethasone

Description:

Patients who receive dexamethasone (8 mg; Decadron; Merck Sharp \& Dohme) intravenously 90 min before skin incision

placebo

Description:

Patients who receive saline placebo intravenously 90 min before skin incision