RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim: To compared blood glucose concentrations after intravenous injection of dexamethasone in the pregnant and non-pregnant women under general anesthesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Eighty patients aged 18-50 years took part in the study (ASA class 1 and 2). Forty of patients were undergoing elective cesarean section under G/A and the other forty undergoing elective laparoscopic Cholecystectomy under G/A. Anesthesia was induced using IV anesthetic drugs (0.5mg/kg ketamine, sleeping dose of propofol up to 2mg/kg, muscle relaxant was 0.6 mg/kg rocuronium and maintained with isoflurane). All of patients have been injected with 0,1mg/kg dexamethasone intravenously, at induction of anesthesia, Blood glucose concentrations were measured at induction and then in 60min, 180min and in 360 min after injection of dexamethasone and results were compared between the groups; IV fluid added was normal saline (0.9%) during the study. RESULTS: Results: Regarding to blood glucose levels, we noticed that its level significantly increased over time and peaked in 180min after dexamethasone injection in both groups. The difference percentage between the lower reading (pre injection) and the upper reading (in 180min after) was 33.5% in pregnant woman and 46.2%for non-pregnant women, this difference was statistically significant relative to the pre injection, as this difference was lower in the pregnant women. In 360min after blood glucose level began to drop in both groups. After giving 0.1 mg/kg of dexamethasone, blood glucose level increased in both groups, but it was lower in pregnant women.