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Assessment of side effects after serial intralesional steroid injections for idiopathic subglottic stenosis

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology volume 278, pages 445–450 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the incidence and severity of 12 systemic side effects of serial intralesional steroid injections (SILSI) in patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS).

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with iSGS who underwent SILSI with Triamcinolone 40 mg/dL. After SILSI, the patients were asked to answer 12 questions regarding frequently encountered systemic side effects of steroids. Each answer was rated as mild, moderate, or severe. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and present the findings.

Results

The study included 49 patients (42 female and 7 male) with a mean age of 59.1 years (range 21–83 years). Post-SILSI treatment, 27 (55%) reported experiencing side effects while 22 (45%) patients reported no side effects. The most frequent side effect reported in women of reproductive age (n: 8) was menstrual irregularities (3/8, 37%). Other frequently reported side effects were feeling joyful and sleeping difficulties, each reported by 30% of the patients. All side effects resolved after the completion of SILSI.

Conclusions

SILSI can be administered with minimal tolerable side effects. Clinicians should make their patients aware of the most frequent side effects. Special attention should be given to women of reproductive age to inform them of the possibility of menstrual irregularities during SILSI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ozlem Onerci Celebi

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA

    Ozlem Onerci Celebi, Sungjin A. Song & Ramon A. Franco Jr

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medica School, Boston, MA, USA

    Sungjin A. Song & Ramon A. Franco Jr

  4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Alena Santeerapharp

  5. Department of Otolaryngology, Panyananthapikkhu Chonprathan Medical Center Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Kanittha Choksawad

  6. Division of Laryngology, Department of Otolaryngology, Voice and Speech Laboratory, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Ramon A. Franco Jr

Authors
  1. Ozlem Onerci Celebi
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  2. Sungjin A. Song
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  5. Ramon A. Franco Jr
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Correspondence to Ramon A. Franco Jr.

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Celebi, O.O., Song, S.A., Santeerapharp, A. et al. Assessment of side effects after serial intralesional steroid injections for idiopathic subglottic stenosis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 278, 445–450 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06371-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06371-3

Keywords

  • Subglottic stenosis
  • Intralesional steroid injection
  • Local steroid treatment
  • Steroid side effects