Table 3.147.

Current recommendations for steroid cover (Nicholson et al 1998)

Amount of steroid (prednisolone or equivalent) currently taken	Type of surgery*	Cover needed
< 10 mg per day	No cover required	No cover required
> 10 mg per day	Minor surgery	25 mg hydrocortisone IV at start of treatment
	Moderate surgery	Usual preop steroids, 25 mg hydrocortisone IV plus 100 mg/day for 24 h
Major surgery	Usual preop steroids, 25 mg hydrocortisone IV plus 100 mg/day for 48–72 h

^*Minor surgery: extractions under LA. Moderate surgery: reduction of a fractured mandible/zygoma. Major surgery: head and neck surgery/orthognathic surgery.