Efficacy of Dexamethasone in Attenuation of Postinduction Hypotension in Geriatric Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia

Efficacy of Dexamethasone in Attenuation of Postinduction Hypotension in Geriatric Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 4

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT04908592

Enrollment

100

Registered

2021-06-01

Start date

2021-06-15

Completion date

2021-09-15

Last updated

2021-10-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hypotension

Brief summary

* Geriatric patients who undergo general anesthesia experience post induction hypotension which is treated with intravenous fluids and ephedrine. The main cause of post-induction hypotension is the decrease in the sympathetic outflow causing arterial vasodilatation, a decrease in venous return and consequently the activation of the Bezold Jarish reflex (BJR) that elicits a triad of bradycardia, vasodilatation and further hypotension. BJR is elicited by activation of 5-HT3 receptors within the intracardiac vagal nerve endings. * Glucocorticoids in general inhibit 5-HT3 expression and dexamethasone was found to decrease the level of 5-HT3 in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in developing rats. So, the research team hypothesizes that dexamethasone can attenuate the postinduction hypotension in geriatric patients undergoing general anesthesia if administered preoperatively.

Interventions

DRUGDexamethasone

Patients will receive dexamethasone 8 mg diluted in 100 ml 0.9% normal saline (NS) IVI over 15 min 2 h preoperatively.

OTHERPlacebo

Patients will receive 100 ml 0.9% normal saline (NS) IVI over 15 min 2 h preoperatively.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

60 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Class-I and II. 2. Elective surgery under general anesthesia.

Exclusion criteria

1. Emergency surgeries. 2. Ischemic heart disease. 3. Peptic ulcer & active infection. 4. Psychiatric disorder. 5. Patients on steroids or serotonin related medications (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor).

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
The proportion of patients with hypotension (25% decrease below the baseline for mean blood pressure (mmHg).	intraoperative	The proportion of patients with hypotension (25% decrease below the baseline for mean blood pressure (mmHg).

Countries

Egypt

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026