Is Corticosteroid of No Use for Pediatric Patients with Common Cold Undergoing Anesthesia? A Randomized, Double-Blind, Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND Use of laryngeal mask airways (LMAs) has been advocated for children with upper respiratory tract infection (URI). However, no randomized trial has yet compared intravenous corticosteroids versus placebo in these patients. OBJECTIVES We hypothesized the lower incidence of postoperative cough (as the primary outcome) with intravenous corticosteroid versus placebo in pediatric patients with mild URI, who were anesthetized with LMA. METHODS A total of 210 patients with mild URI, aged 1 - 6 years, were included. The patients underwent full ophthalmic examination immediately (within few days). They were randomized to receive either intravenous corticosteroids (1 mg/kg of hydrocortisone and 0.1 mg/kg of dexamethasone 10 minutes prior to anesthesia induction) or placebo. Anesthesia was induced with sevoflurane. Following LMA insertion, the patients were maintained on anesthesia with spontaneous ventilation on N2O, O2, and 3% sevoflurane; LMA was removed under deep anesthesia. The outcomes were evaluated during anesthesia, recovery, and the first postoperative week. RESULTS A total of 204 patients completed the trial. Cough, which was designated as the primary outcome, was not significantly different among patients receiving corticosteroids and placebo (31% vs. 34%; P = 0.7). Also, the incidence of laryngospasm (16% vs. 14%), apnea (9% VS 5%), desaturation (4% vs. 5%), bronchospasm (14% vs. 7%), vomiting (4% vs. 6%), and postoperative symptoms (8% vs. 7%) was not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Based on the present research, intravenous injection of corticosteroids has no beneficial effects for pediatric patients with minor uncomplicated URI (without a history of allergy), undergoing LMA anesthesia.