Towards National Recommendations for Perioperative Corticosteroids Stress Dose Administration

Steroids are medications that can be given to treat many diseases to reduce inflammation. If steroids are taken for a long period of time, this can lead to the suppression of glands called adrenal glands (those glands produce cortisone/steroid in our body). If these adrenal glands don't work well and patient undergo surgery, this can lead to low blood pressure and even death. These complications can be prevented by giving steroids intravenously before the surgery. However, there are side effects associated to giving steroids before surgery such as higher risk of infection after surgery. This project consists of gathering a group of Canadian experts to discuss which patients would benefit from receiving steroids around the surgery. At the end our discussions, we will write and publish recommendations to help other physicians around the country to treat those patients.