TY - JOUR T1 - Drug watch JF - European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy: Science and Practice JO - Eur J Hosp Pharm SP - 552 LP - 552 DO - 10.1136/ejhpharm-2012-000248 VL - 19 IS - 6 AU - Kam Uppell Y1 - 2012/12/01 UR - http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/19/6/552.abstract N2 - Perioperative dexamethasone administered to children undergoing a tonsillectomy is not associated with excessive, clinically significant bleeding events, according to a study published in JAMA. Explaining the rationale for the study the researchers say that although corticosteroids are commonly given to children during a tonsillectomy to reduce nausea and vomiting there is concern they might increase the risk of perioperative and postoperative haemorrhage. In a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study 314 children (aged 3–18 years) were randomised to receive perioperative dexamethasone or placebo. The main outcome was the rate and severity of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage (using a bleeding severity scale) in the 14 days following surgery. Bleeding events were reported in 17 children (10.8%) in the dexamethasone group and in 13 patients (8.2%) in the … ER -