Amir Shafa - Associate professor, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Hamidreza Shetabi - Associate professor, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

This study aimed to compare the prophylactic effects of intravenous (IV)dexamethasoneand lidocaine on hemodynamic condition, respiratory complications, pain control,and vomitincidence following cleft palate repair surgery. This double-blind randomizedcontrolled trialwas carried out on ۸۷ children assigned to three groups. Prior to anesthesia,subjects ingroups D and L received ۰.۲ and ۱ mg/kg IV dexamethasone and lidocaine,respectively.Moreover, group C received placebo in a similar condition. The outcome variableswererecorded prior to the surgery and then every ۱۵ minutes during the surgical andrecoverytime. Mean heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), and mean end tidalcarbondioxide (ETCO۲) during the surgical time were not significantly different betweendexamethasone and lidocaine groups. Dexamethasone significantly improved thelevel of blood oxygen saturation (SPO۲) during the recovery time. Nevertheless,MABP in recovery time did not significantly decrease in the dexamethasone group.There were no significant differences in respiratory complications, pain score, and vomiting incidence between lidocaine and dexamethasone groups. Premedication with both IV dexamethasone and lidocaine providsimilar stable hemodynamic and respiratory conditions during the surgical time. However,the use of dexamethasone developed more desirable effects on HR and SPO۲ than administration of lidocaine during the recovery time. Both drugs significantly lessened postoperative pain compared to the placebo group at this time.