Submucosal Dexamethasone After Tonsillectomy

In this prospective controlled study, 74 adults undergoing elective bilateral tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis were consecutively enrolled and sequentially assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either local submucosal dexamethasone (8 mg, 1 mL; n = 37) or an equal volume of normal saline (n = 37). The primary outcome was the change in postoperative uvula edema score between postoperative days 1 and 3. Secondary outcomes included postoperative uvula edema grades, pain, dysphagia, speech difficulty, and breathing discomfort assessed on postoperative days 1, 3, and 5.