A single dose of dexamethasone can reduce the time to first flatus after a gastrointestinal procedure, researchers say.

In a single-centre trial in China, 126 patients undergoing elective GI procedures (mean age 61 and 66% male) were randomised to either 8mg IV dexamethasone or IV saline before anaesthesia.

First flatus, a sign of restored gastrointestinal motility, occurred in patients given the corticosteroid, at a mean of 37 hours after the operation.

In contrast, first flatus was reported on average eight hours later (45 hours post-procedure) in patients given saline placebo.