The Impact of Preoperative Dexamethasone Administration on Quality of Recovery Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Prospective Observational Study

Introduction Recovery from anesthesia is complex and affected by multiple factors. In patient with obesity, the increased prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders poses a challenge in achieving optimal patient satisfaction. Therefore, strategies to enhance the quality of recovery are crucial for this population. This study aimed to investigate whether administration of dexamethasone to patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) could improve recovery outcomes. Methods This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary university hospital in Samsun, Turkey. Thirty patients who received dexamethasone prior to LSG (group D) and 30 patients who did not (group C) were included with convenience sampling method. The quality of recovery was assessed using the Quality of Recovery 40 questionnaire (QoR-40). The primary outcome measure was the QoR-40 score at 24 h postoperatively. Results The dexamethasone group showed a significant improvement in QoR-40 scores (185.4 ± 6.0 vs. 172.0 ± 8.4, p < 0.001), exhibited reduced morphine consumption (11.8 ± 7.8 vs. 21.8 ± 10.9 mg, p < 0.001), opioid demand count (21.50 [9.50–49.00], p = 0.001), the number of patient used antiemetic drug (1 vs. 22, p < 0.001), and achieved earlier mobilization (3 [3–4] vs. 3 [3–4] h, p < 0.0001). However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups concerning intraoperative complications, postoperative wound infections, or time to discharge. Conclusions In patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, preoperative dexamethasone administration was associated with improved the recovery quality after discharge and reduced early postoperative need for antiemetic medications.