Obstructive Sleep ApneaPhase 2NCT06818981
Post-Operative Steroids After Sleep Surgery
A Phase 2 study testing 8mg dexamethasone in people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, run by Medical University of South Carolina at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The primary objective of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study will be to determine if postoperative steroids significantly improve subjects' pain compared to a placebo after undergoing sleep surgery. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- What is being tested?
- 8mg dexamethasone
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 0 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2026to 1 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults 18 years or older
- Undergoing sleep surgery, specifically palatopharyngoplasty, tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy, uvulectomy, hypoglossal nerve stimulation, genioglossal advancement, or maxillomandibular advancement
- Ability to complete all study questions in English
Who cannot join
- Any self-reported allergies to corticosteroids
- Intra-operative surgical or anesthetic complication
- Pre-operative steroid use (defined as any steroid use greater than three days duration within 30 days prior to sleep surgery)
- Inability to perform study due to underlying medical condition
- Inability to answer postoperative questionnaires due to underlying medical conditions
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, 29412
About this study
Official title: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Post-Operative Steroids After Sleep Surgery
The primary objective of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study will be to determine if postoperative steroids significantly improve subjects' pain compared to a placebo after undergoing sleep surgery. The secondary objective is to determine if this same course of steroids improves how quickly subjects can tolerate a regular diet after surgery. Further, another secondary objective is to see if this will decrease a patient's postoperative narcotic usage. Investigators also will assess sleepiness, nasal breathing, and eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) after the procedure using the validated measures Preoperative Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Survey (NOSE), and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) with an objective to see if these improve more or quicker in patients who receive postoperative steroids. Investigators hypothesize that postoperative steroids will significantly decrease a patient's pain quicker in their recovery, allow them to tolerate more oral intake early in their recovery, allow them to tolerate a regular diet earlier in their recovery, and reduce their postoperative narcotic usage. Investigators hypothesize that postoperative steroids will also improve patients' ESS, NOSE, and ETD scores postoperatively, but Investigators do not believe postoperative steroids will affect the oropharyngeal bleeding rate of patients. This study will provide pilot data to determine if postoperative steroids and what dosage should be part of a standardized postoperative regimen in patients undergoing sleep surgery.
Read the detailed description
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a multifactorial disease that negatively affects almost every system in the body. While continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can be used as an effective treatment, there are many reasons that patients cannot tolerate CPAP, including claustrophobia, rhinitis sicca, ineffectiveness, and manufacturer recalls that most recently have even been fatal. Therefore, sleep surgery continues to be an increasingly utilized treatment option for patients with OSA who cannot tolerate or obtain CPAP. However postoperatively, patients typically complain of significant pain, sometimes requiring a significant course of narcotic pain medication, odynophagia, and dysphagia. These side effects often can make patients hesitant to pursue sleep surgery and carry the risk of patients becoming dehydrated and malnourished postoperatively, which can lead to representation to the Emergency Department. Minimal research currently exists on how to improve treating pain, odynophagia, and dysphagia in this patient population. One study by Williams et al. evaluated the use of a one-time dose of intravenous or intramuscular dose of steroids versus placebo after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty but did not find a clinically significant difference between the two groups postoperatively. However, in their study, they mention that likely their intervention was too short, and that further investigation into a longer course of steroid treatment, our current intervention for this study, could potentially show clinically significant improvements. Furthermore, there have been a few randomized controlled trials showing that a course of steroids improve pain and narcotic consumption after tonsillectomy in adults. However, no research has studies the postoperative effects of steroids on other sleep surgeries, such as palatopharyngoplasty, hypoglossal nerve stimulation, genioglossus advancement, or maxillomandibular advancement. Investigators hypothesize that postoperative steroids will be superior to no steroids in terms of pain, dysphagia, and narcotic usage.
- Conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Being tested
- 8mg dexamethasone
- Keywords
- Pain, Sleep Disorders, Surgery
- Medical subject headings
- Sleep Apnea, Obstructive, Pain, Sleep Wake Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
8mg dexamethasoneDrug
Also called Decadron
Minimal research exists on how to treat pain, odynophagia, and dysphagia in sleep surgery patients. One study by Williams et al. evaluated the use of a one-time dose of intravenous or intramuscular dose of steroids versus placebo after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty but did not find a clinically significant difference between the two groups postoperatively. However this study mentioned that their current intervention was too short and that a longer-term steroid intervention could be beneficial. This is the goal of this intervention.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 3 doses of intravenous 8mg dexamethasone with 3 doses of oral 8mg dexamethasone | Experimental | Experimental drug administered both intravenously and orally Receives: Drug: 8mg dexamethasone |
| 3 doses of intravenous 8mg dexamethasone with 3 doses of placebo | Other | Experimental drug administered intravenously, while the placebo is administered orally Receives: Drug: 8mg dexamethasone |
| 3 doses of intravenous placebo with 3 doses of oral 8mg dexamethasone | Other | Placebo administered intravenously, while the experimental drug is administered orally Receives: Drug: 8mg dexamethasone |
| 3 doses of intravenous placebo with 3 doses of placebo | Placebo comparator | Placebo administered both intravenously and orally Receives: Drug: 8mg dexamethasone |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain control
As determined by a validated visual analog scale, with scores being scaled from 0 to 10, with 0 being the lowest score (no pain) and 10 being the highest score (most extreme amount of pain)
Measured: 2 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Feb 2025
- Study start1 Jul 2026
- Primary completion1 Jul 2026
- Study completion1 Jul 2026
Why it stopped: Lack of funding
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (8)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Obstructive Sleep ApneaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 0 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Nicolas Poupore, Principal investigator, Medical University of South Carolina
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06818981
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Pro00138969
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 5 Feb 2025
- Last updated
- 6 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Lachance M, Lacroix Y, Audet N, Savard P, Thuot F. The use of dexamethasone to reduce pain after tonsillectomy in adults: a double-blind prospective randomized trial. Laryngoscope. 2008 Feb;118(2):232-6. doi: 10.1097/MLG.0b013e318159a5cc.
PubMed 18043492Stewart R, Bill R, Ullah R, McConaghy P, Hall SJ. Dexamethasone reduces pain after tonsillectomy in adults. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 2002 Oct;27(5):321-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2273.2002.00588.x.
PubMed 12383289Williams PM, Strome M, Eliachar I, Lavertu P, Wood BG, Vito KJ. Impact of steroids on recovery after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Laryngoscope. 1999 Dec;109(12):1941-6. doi: 10.1097/00005537-199912000-00008.
PubMed 10591351Abdelwahab M, Marques S, Howard J, Huang A, Lechner M, Olds C, Capasso R. Incidence and risk factors of chronic opioid use after sleep apnea surgery. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022 Jul 1;18(7):1805-1813. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9978.
PubMed 35393936Shah RR, Thaler ER. Base of Tongue Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Era of Neurostimulation. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2020 Jun;53(3):431-443. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2020.02.006. Epub 2020 Apr 23.
PubMed 32334869Barrera JE. Skeletal Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Sleep Med Clin. 2018 Dec;13(4):549-558. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2018.07.006.
PubMed 30396448Smith DF, Cohen AP, Ishman SL. Surgical management of OSA in adults. Chest. 2015 Jun;147(6):1681-1690. doi: 10.1378/chest.14-2078.
PubMed 26033129Kapur VK, Auckley DH, Chowdhuri S, Kuhlmann DC, Mehra R, Ramar K, Harrod CG. Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnostic Testing for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Mar 15;13(3):479-504. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.6506.
PubMed 28162150
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Post-Operative Steroids After Sleep Surgery
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06818981
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Pro00138969
- Conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Keywords
- Pain, Sleep Disorders, Surgery
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- WithdrawnReason stopped: Lack of funding
- Enrolment
- 0 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of South CarolinaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 11 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The primary objective of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study will be to determine if postoperative steroids significantly improve subjects' pain compared to a placebo after undergoing sleep surgery. The secondary objective is to determine if this same course of steroids improves how quickly subjects can tolerate a regular diet after surgery. Further, another secondary objective is to see if this will decrease a patient's postoperative narcotic usage. Investigators also will assess sleepiness, nasal breathing, and eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) after the procedure using the validated measures Preoperative Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Survey (NOSE), and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) with an objective to see if these improve more or quicker in patients who receive postoperative steroids. Investigators hypothesize that postoperative steroids will significantly decrease a patient's pain quicker in their recovery, allow them to tolerate more oral intake early in their recovery, allow them to tolerate a regular diet earlier in their recovery, and reduce their postoperative narcotic usage. Investigators hypothesize that postoperative steroids will also improve patients' ESS, NOSE, and ETD scores postoperatively, but Investigators do not believe postoperative steroids will affect the oropharyngeal bleeding rate of patients. This study will provide pilot data to determine if postoperative steroids and what dosage should be part of a standardized postoperative regimen in patients undergoing sleep surgery.
Detailed description
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a multifactorial disease that negatively affects almost every system in the body. While continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can be used as an effective treatment, there are many reasons that patients cannot tolerate CPAP, including claustrophobia, rhinitis sicca, ineffectiveness, and manufacturer recalls that most recently have even been fatal. Therefore, sleep surgery continues to be an increasingly utilized treatment option for patients with OSA who cannot tolerate or obtain CPAP. However postoperatively, patients typically complain of significant pain, sometimes requiring a significant course of narcotic pain medication, odynophagia, and dysphagia. These side effects often can make patients hesitant to pursue sleep surgery and carry the risk of patients becoming dehydrated and malnourished postoperatively, which can lead to representation to the Emergency Department. Minimal research currently exists on how to improve treating pain, odynophagia, and dysphagia in this patient population. One study by Williams et al. evaluated the use of a one-time dose of intravenous or intramuscular dose of steroids versus placebo after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty but did not find a clinically significant difference between the two groups postoperatively. However, in their study, they mention that likely their intervention was too short, and that further investigation into a longer course of steroid treatment, our current intervention for this study, could potentially show clinically significant improvements. Furthermore, there have been a few randomized controlled trials showing that a course of steroids improve pain and narcotic consumption after tonsillectomy in adults. However, no research has studies the postoperative effects of steroids on other sleep surgeries, such as palatopharyngoplasty, hypoglossal nerve stimulation, genioglossus advancement, or maxillomandibular advancement. Investigators hypothesize that postoperative steroids will be superior to no steroids in terms of pain, dysphagia, and narcotic usage.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 3 doses of intravenous 8mg dexamethasone with 3 doses of oral 8mg dexamethasone | Experimental | Drug: 8mg dexamethasoneExperimental drug administered both intravenously and orally |
| 3 doses of intravenous 8mg dexamethasone with 3 doses of placebo | Other | Drug: 8mg dexamethasoneExperimental drug administered intravenously, while the placebo is administered orally |
| 3 doses of intravenous placebo with 3 doses of oral 8mg dexamethasone | Other | Drug: 8mg dexamethasonePlacebo administered intravenously, while the experimental drug is administered orally |
| 3 doses of intravenous placebo with 3 doses of placebo | Placebo comparator | Drug: 8mg dexamethasonePlacebo administered both intravenously and orally |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Adults 18 years or older
- Undergoing sleep surgery, specifically palatopharyngoplasty, tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy, uvulectomy, hypoglossal nerve stimulation, genioglossal advancement, or maxillomandibular advancement
- Ability to complete all study questions in English
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Any self-reported allergies to corticosteroids
- Intra-operative surgical or anesthetic complication
- Pre-operative steroid use (defined as any steroid use greater than three days duration within 30 days prior to sleep surgery)
- Inability to perform study due to underlying medical condition
- Inability to answer postoperative questionnaires due to underlying medical conditions
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| 8mg dexamethasoneAlso: DecadronMinimal research exists on how to treat pain, odynophagia, and dysphagia in sleep surgery patients. One study by Williams et al. evaluated the use of a one-time dose of intravenous or intramuscular dose of steroids versus placebo after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty but did not find a clinically significant difference between the two groups postoperatively. However this study mentioned that their current intervention was too short and that a longer-term steroid intervention could be beneficial. This is the goal of this intervention. | Drug | 3 doses of intravenous 8mg dexamethasone with 3 doses of oral 8mg dexamethasone, 3 doses of intravenous 8mg dexamethasone with 3 doses of placebo, 3 doses of intravenous placebo with 3 doses of oral 8mg dexamethasone, 3 doses of intravenous placebo with 3 doses of placebo |
Primary outcome
Pain control
Time frame: 2 weeks
As determined by a validated visual analog scale, with scores being scaled from 0 to 10, with 0 being the lowest score (no pain) and 10 being the highest score (most extreme amount of pain)
Results and safety
The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 18043492Lachance M, Lacroix Y, Audet N, Savard P, Thuot F. The use of dexamethasone to reduce pain after tonsillectomy in adults: a double-blind prospective randomized trial. Laryngoscope. 2008 Feb;118(2):232-6. doi: 10.1097/MLG.0b013e318159a5cc.
- Background: PubMed 12383289Stewart R, Bill R, Ullah R, McConaghy P, Hall SJ. Dexamethasone reduces pain after tonsillectomy in adults. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 2002 Oct;27(5):321-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2273.2002.00588.x.
- Background: PubMed 10591351Williams PM, Strome M, Eliachar I, Lavertu P, Wood BG, Vito KJ. Impact of steroids on recovery after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Laryngoscope. 1999 Dec;109(12):1941-6. doi: 10.1097/00005537-199912000-00008.
- Background: PubMed 35393936Abdelwahab M, Marques S, Howard J, Huang A, Lechner M, Olds C, Capasso R. Incidence and risk factors of chronic opioid use after sleep apnea surgery. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022 Jul 1;18(7):1805-1813. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9978.
- Background: PubMed 32334869Shah RR, Thaler ER. Base of Tongue Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Era of Neurostimulation. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2020 Jun;53(3):431-443. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2020.02.006. Epub 2020 Apr 23.
- Background: PubMed 30396448Barrera JE. Skeletal Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Sleep Med Clin. 2018 Dec;13(4):549-558. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2018.07.006.
- Background: PubMed 26033129Smith DF, Cohen AP, Ishman SL. Surgical management of OSA in adults. Chest. 2015 Jun;147(6):1681-1690. doi: 10.1378/chest.14-2078.
- Background: PubMed 28162150Kapur VK, Auckley DH, Chowdhuri S, Kuhlmann DC, Mehra R, Ramar K, Harrod CG. Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnostic Testing for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Mar 15;13(3):479-504. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.6506.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Nicolas Poupore principal investigator
Medical University of South Carolina
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing 8mg dexamethasone in people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, run by Medical University of South Carolina at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: withdrawn, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain control (time frame: 2 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06818981, which also lists 8 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Oct 2026.