The Laryngoscope
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Review Meta Analysis
Dexamethasone and postoperative bleeding after tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy in children: A meta-analysis of prospective studies.
Tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy are common pediatric surgical procedures. Although perioperative administration of dexamethasone is common, recent data indicate a possible association between dexamethasone and increased risk of postoperative hemorrhage. ⋯ There was no overall association between dexamethasone administration and postoperative bleeding in children undergoing tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy. However, this study cannot exclude the possibility of an association between specific dexamethasone doses and increased odds of bleeding. The results underscore the need for more dedicated prospective studies of this very common intervention.