Don't Add Peri-Op Stress-Dose Steroids to All Patients on Chronic Steroids

The thinking is changing about using perioperative "stress-dose steroids" in adults taking chronic corticosteroids.

For years, IV hydrocortisone has been added perioperatively to reduce the risk of adrenal crisis in response to surgical stress.

But this practice is based more on theory than evidence. And limited data suggest stress doses don't add benefit to many patients.