Need for rescue analgesics grouped by concomitant anti-emetics.

<p>Six studies described the need for rescue analgesics in thyroidectomy patients treated with dexamethasone versus placebo with or without concomitant anti-emetics (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.50–0.83, <i>P</i> = 0.0008). There was no evidence of significant heterogeneity between RCTs (<i>P</i> = 0.25, <i>I</i>² = 25%).</p

Details of anesthetic technique, and rescue analgesics and anti-emetics in the included trials.

<p>IV, intravenous; IM, intramuscular; ^ano difference.</p><p>Details of anesthetic technique, and rescue analgesics and anti-emetics in the included trials.</p

Flow chart for selecting the trials.

<p>On the basis of the search strategy, 195 articles were identified by the initial search, and 17 required further assessment. Finally, 13 articles were included in this review.</p

Characteristics of trials included in the meta-analysis.

<p>IV: intravenous; ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; D: dexamethasone; T: tropisetron; O: ondansetron; G: Granisetron.</p><p>Characteristics of trials included in the meta-analysis.</p

VAS post-operative pain score grouped by dexamethasone dose.

<p>Six studies described post-operative pain scores in thyroidectomy patients treated with dexamethasone versus placebo with or without concomitant anti-emetics (WMD –1.17, 95% CI –1.91 to –0.44, <i>P</i> = 0.002). There was evidence of significant heterogeneity between RCTs (<i>P</i><0.00001, <i>I²</i> = 94%).</p

Quality of evidence in included studies.

<p>Quality of evidence in included studies.</p

Incidence of PONV grouped by concomitant anti-emetics.

<p>Eleven studies described the incidence of PONV in thyroidectomy patients treated with dexamethasone versus placebo with or without concomitant anti-emetics (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.63, <i>P</i><0.00001). There was evidence of significant heterogeneity between studies (<i>P</i> = 0.003, <i>I²</i> = 56%).</p

PONV according to dexamethasone dose.

<p>Higher dexamethasone doses (8–10<b> </b>mg) were significantly more effective than lower dexamethasone doses (1.25–5<b> </b>mg) (<i>P</i> = 0.02).</p

Comparison of dexamethasone with other anti-emetics.

<p>Three studies described the incidence of PONV in thyroidectomy patients treated with dexamethasone versus other anti-emetics (RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.86–1.81, <i>P</i> = 0.24). There was no evidence of significant heterogeneity between RCTs (<i>P</i> = 0.27, <i>I²</i> = 23%).</p

Need for rescue antiemetics grouped by concomitant antiemetics.

<p>Six studies described the need for rescue antiemetics in thyroidectomy patients treated with dexamethasone versus placebo with or without concomitant antiemetics (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.57, <i>P</i><0.00001). There was no evidence of significant heterogeneity between RCTs (<i>P</i> = 0.43, <i>I²</i> = 0%).</p