Preoperative High-dose Dexamethasone and Emergency Laparotomy

The aim of this trial is to evaluate the effect of high-dose glucocorticoid on inflammatory response and recovery after emergency laparotomy in participants with intestinal obstruction and perforated viscus. Primary outcome is the reduction of C-reactive protein on postoperative day 1. Secondary outcomes are organ specific complications in the post anaesthesia phase, endothel and inflammatory markers, fluid status, preload dependency, pain, lung function, nausea and mobilization during the first 5 days after surgery, . The investigators hypothesize, that a preoperative single high dose of glucocorticoid reduces systemic inflammatory response after emergency laparotomy.

Surgical trauma and accompanying inflammation results in increased capillary permeability leading to tissue edema. Since the vascular endothelium contributes to homeostasis, endothelial damage may increase the risk of cardiovascular and hemodynamic complications. Pre-operative high-dose glucocorticoids provide reduction in the inflammatory response after surgery, effective pain relief in several major surgical procedures, as well as reducing fatigue, impairing endothelial dysfunction, potentially amend fluid extravasation, edema and dyscoagulation and vasodilation. However, glucocorticoids have not been assessed in patients with peritonitis or intestinal obstruction, specifically, the impact on pain, fluid dynamics, respiratory as well as endothelial function and mobilization in both obstruction and perforation. In this study, patients will be randomized to either high dose dexamethason (1 mg /kg) or placebo (0,9% NaCl), administered as a single dose preoperatively. The investigatoris hypothesize that a preoperative single high dose of glucocorticoid reduces systemic inflammatory response after emergency laparotomy.