To investigate whether a preoperative orally administered steroids might reduce bleeding during nasal polyposis (NP) surgery and improve visualization of the surgical field.

Methods:

A prospective randomized study including adults (> 18 years old) with primary NP and who had indication for endoscopic endonasal surgery.

These patients are randomized into two groups:

a group prepared with prednisolone 20 mg tablets (0.5 mg/ kg/day) for 7 days before surgery and an unprepared group.

The evaluation criteria are:

blood loss with comparison of pre and postoperative haemoglobins (Hb), operating duration and visibility of the operating field assessed by the surgeon according to the Boezaart score.

Results:

We included 32 patients. Seventeen patients in the unprepared group and 15 patients in the prepared group. The two groups were comparable in epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical parameters (p> 0.05). The mean blood loss was greater in the unprepared group (700 ± 487 ml versus 500 ± 480 ml) with statistically insignificant difference (p = 0.38). The difference was statistically insignificant (p = 0.24) between the 2 groups for postoperative Hb and for the difference in preoperative Hb - postoperative Hb. The operating duration was shorter in the prepared group (80 ± 24 min versus 90 ± 64 min) (p = 0.11). The Boezaart score was comparable (median = 3) (p = 0.29).

Conclusion:

This clinical trial has not shown that administration of a preoperative oral corticosteroid can significantly reduce blood loss during NP surgery and improve visualization of the surgical field.