Table 1.

Sequence of postoperative events and dexamethasone administration.

Postoperative day	Event	Dexamethasone	Heart rate
0	Abdominal surgery		80 s
1			90 s
2			80 s–90 s
3	Extubated, reintubated	First dose, 6 am	70 s–90 s
4			30 s–60 s
5	Extubated	Last dose, 6 am	40 s–50 s
6			50 s–70 s
7			70 s–80 s
8	Reintubated		60 s–80 s
9	Extubated, reintubated	Start, 6 pm	70 s–80 s
10			30 s–60 s
11	ECG: sinus bradycardia		40 s–50 s
12	ECG: bigeminy		30 s–50 s
13	Rhythm strip: bigeminy, PVCs	Last dose, 6 am	30 s–60 s
14	Tracheostomy		60 s–80 s
15			60 s–80 s
16			70 s–80 s
17			70 s-80 s
28	Discharged home with tracheostomy collar		80 s