Effects of low-dose steroids on bronchial healing after sleeve resection. A clinical study

We prospectively evaluated the effect of low-dose steroids after bronchial sleeve resection in 20 consecutive patients. Ten patients (group I) did not receive steroids. Ten patients (group II) received 10 mg of methylprednisolone intravenously intraoperatively and 10 mg intramuscularly every day for 10 days. In addition, group II patients received 250 mg of hydrocortisone succinate endobronchially before extubation and 5 mg of methylprednisolone daily in an aerosol solution. Bronchoscopy was performed in all patients before extubation, every day for 10 days, and 1 and 3 months after the operation. Bronchial healing was graded endoscopically from grade I (no edema, excellent healing) to grade V (dehiscence). In group I, three patients showed grade I, four had grade II, one indicated grade III, one revealed grade IV (granuloma), and one showed grade V (dehiscence) healing. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 9.7 days. In group II all 10 patients showed grade I healing. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 7.3 days. We conclude that low-dose steroids improve the postoperative course in patients undergoing bronchial sleeve resection.