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The effect of dexamethasone on pain control after thyroid surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

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Abstract

Introduction

The effect of dexamethasone on postoperative pain after thyroid surgery remains controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of dexamethasone versus placebo on postoperative pain after thyroid surgery.

Methods

We search PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through May 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of dexamethasone versus placebo on postoperative pain after thyroid surgery. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model.

Results

Eight RCTs involving 734 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control group for thyroid surgery, dexamethasone shows significantly reduced pain scores (SMD = − 0.82; 95% CI − 1.08 to − 0.56; P < 0.00001), number of required analgesics (OR = 0.18; 95% CI 0.11–0.31; P < 0.00001), analgesic consumption (SMD = − 0.38; 95% CI − 0.63 to − 0.13; P = 0.003), nausea and vomiting (OR = 0.38; 95% CI 0.17–0.86; P = 0.02), as well as rescue antiemetics (OR = 0.40; 95% CI 0.20–0.79; P = 0.008).

Conclusions

Perioperative dexamethasone is effective to reduce the pain, nausea and vomiting after thyroid surgery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Department of General Surgery (Thyroid Surgery), Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China

    Lian Cheng, Hui Yang & Xiangyu Zhou

  2. Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China

    Yuan Le

Authors
  1. Lian Cheng
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  2. Yuan Le
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  3. Hui Yang
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  4. Xiangyu Zhou
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Correspondence to Hui Yang or Xiangyu Zhou.

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Cheng, L., Le, Y., Yang, H. et al. The effect of dexamethasone on pain control after thyroid surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 278, 1957–1964 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06245-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06245-8

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