Perioperative Complications Associated with Routine Preoperative Glucocorticoid Use Among Patients Undergoing Pituitary Surgery with Normal Preoperative HPA Axis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: This study determined the incidence of perioperative complications associated with routine preoperative glucocorticoid use in patients undergoing pituitary surgery with normal preoperative hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis).

Methodology: From 2011-2021 retrospective chart review, 243 patients undergoing pituitary surgery with normal preoperative HPA axis were analyzed into 2 groups: 1) with preoperative steroids; and 2) without preoperative steroids. Development of postoperative complications was subsequently evaluated.

Results: Incidence of primary composite postoperative complications of in-hospital mortality, postoperative infection and postoperative diabetes insipidus (DI) was significantly increased among those who had preoperative steroids compared to those without (58.33% versus 33.33%, p-value 0.004) with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.90 (CI 1.29 to 6.53, p-value 0.010). Among the components of the composite outcome, post-operative DI was statistically higher among those who were given preoperative steroids (52.45% versus 28.21%, p-value 0.006) with an adjusted OR of 3.31 (CI 1.43 to 7.67, p-value 0.005). The incidence of postoperative adrenal insufficiency was similar between the 2 groups (20.15% with steroids versus 8.70% without steroids, p-value 0.258).

Conclusion: Among patients undergoing pituitary surgery with normal preoperative HPA axis, routine preoperative steroids use was associated with an increased risk of composite postoperative complications.