LAUSR

Background Catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) is common in patients with a urinary catheter and is a risk factor for emergence agitation (EA). The mainstay of CRBD management is anticholinergics. Dexamethasone inhibits acetylcholine release. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dexamethasone on postoperative CRBD and EA. Methods In this prospective study, 90 patients who underwent urological surgery requiring urinary catheterization were allocated randomly to one of two groups (each n = 45). Before induction of anesthesia, the dexamethasone group received 10 mg (2 ml) of dexamethasone intravenously, while the control group received 2 ml of saline in the same manner. The incidence and severity of CRBD were assessed at 0, 1, 2, and 6 h after the patient arrived in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) as the primary outcomes, and the incidence and severity of EA were also compared during emergence and recovery from anesthesia as the secondary outcomes. Results The incidence of CRBD in control group and dexamethasone group at 0, 1, 2, and 6 h postoperatively was 28.9% and 15.6%, 55.6% and 55.6%, 57.8% and 46.7%, and 53.3% and 51.1%, respectively. The incidence and severity of CRBD assessed at 0, 1, 2, and 6 h postoperatively did not show intergroup differences. The incidence and severity of EA in the operating room and PACU also showed no difference between the groups. Conclusions Dexamethasone (10 mg) administered before induction of anesthesia did not further reduce the incidence or severity of CRBD or EA in patients undergoing urological surgery.