Preoperative Single-dose Steroid Application for the Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting After Thyroid Surgery

Preoperative Single-dose Steroid Application for the Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting After Thyroid Surgery

The study is to compare the postoperative recovery, as determined by postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after preoperative application of single-dose dexamethasone versus saline in patients undergoing partial or total thyroidectomy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18
• Planned partial or total thyroidectomy

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of adverse effects to dexamethasone or propyleneglycol or di-natrium-EDTA
• Patients with chronic pain
• Necessity for opioids-application in the postoperative course
• Not possible administration of a cervical block (0.5% bupivacaine at a dose of 20ml)
• Patients with Diabetes mellitus
• Pregnancy (test in young women)
• Glaucoma
• Patients who received antiemetic therapy within 48h before surgery
• Patients with acute pain requiring painkillers others than paracetamol or more than single dose NSAR treatment within 48h before surgery
• Use of psychotropic drugs
• Incompliant patients
• Preoperatively high suspicion of malignancy
• Re-operations