Prophylactic Low-Dose Dexamethasone for Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Type B Aortic Dissection: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Prophylactic low-dose dexamethasone linked to fewer postoperative pulmonary complications after aortic dissection surgery
Prophylactic Low-Dose Dexamethasone for Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Type B Aortic Dissection: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
To evaluate the impact of prophylactic low-dose glucocorticoids on the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (postoperative pulmonary complications) and perioperative recovery parameters in patients undergoing surgery for type B aortic dissection.
This retrospective cohort study analyzed 240 patients who underwent type B aortic dissection (type B aortic dissection) surgery at Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University from January 2023 to December 2025.
Fewer pulmonary complications with dexamethasone (20.43%) than standard care (34.41%) after surgery
After propensity score matching, baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups, with all standardized mean differences <0.1.
The intervention was also associated with significantly shorter mechanical ventilation duration ( p = 0.008), intensive care unit stay ( p = 0.003), and total hospital stay ( p = 0.009).
Additionally, the intervention group demonstrated significantly lower postoperative CRP and WBC levels and a higher PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio at 24 hours (all p < 0.001).
No significant differences were observed in safety outcomes including new-onset infection, wound healing impairment, or hyperglycemia.
Prophylactic low-dose glucocorticoids were associated with a lower incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications and improved perioperative recovery in patients undergoing type B aortic dissection surgery, including shorter ventilation time and the length of hospital stay, attenuated inflammatory response, and better oxygenation.
These findings suggest potential clinical benefits with a favorable safety profile, but causality cannot be inferred due to the retrospective design. Therefore, prospective multicenter studies are warranted to validate these results.