Dexamethasone reduces pain after tonsillectomy in adults

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a course of dexamethasone on postoperative pain and morbidity after adult tonsillectomy. We report the results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 200 adult patients undergoing elective tonsillectomy. Patients were randomized to three groups: one group received the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam for 8 days postoperatively, one group received dexamethasone for the same period and the third group received both drugs. Patients recorded their pain scores and analgesic requirements daily for 10 days. Patients treated with a combination of piroxicam and dexamethasone recorded consistently lower pain scores than those treated with either drug alone. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) on all days except the day of surgery and the second postoperative day. Patients treated with piroxicam alone had significantly higher analgesic requirements than in either of the other groups. Dexamethasone given in this regime reduces postoperative pain and analgesic requirements after adult tonsillectomy.