Exercise: Prophylactic administration of parenteral steroids, answer 9

Question 9: What conclusions could we draw about the effect of steroids on re-intubation?

Suggested answer:

I think we can conclude that parenteral steroids greatly reduce the risk of re-intubation extubated patients.

The common estimate of the odds ratio is 0.29, which is much less than the 1.00 we would have if there were no effect and less than the 0.38 for laryngeal oedema. The 95% confidence interval is 0.15 to 0.58, so the largest estimate for the odds ratio is 0.58, condsiderably less than 1.00.

The odds ratio is also highly significantly different from 1.00, P < 0.001.

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Last updated: 18 February, 2009.