Preoperative high dose of dexamethasone in emergency laparotomy: randomized clinical trial
Cihoric M, Kehlet H, Lauritsen ML, Højlund J, Kanstrup K, Kärnsund S et al.
Br J Surg 2024; 111: znae130.
A single dose of dexamethasone given at the start of emergency laparotomy reduced the mean C-reactive protein level after 24h from 220 to 170 mg/l, P=0.015. It also reduced postoperative major complications (27 versus 45 per cent, P=0.032) and 90-day mortality (7 versus 23 per cent, P=0.023).
Comment: Is there enough evidence yet for this to be the standard of care?
10 September 2024
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