special subjects
Perioperative Management
Corticosteroids
Patients may require supplemental corticosteroids to help prevent inadequate responses to perioperative stress if they have taken > 5 mg ofprednisonedaily (or an equivalent dose of another corticosteroid) for > 3 weeks within the past year. Empiric stress dose corticosteroid coverage is also often given when the dose and duration of corticosteroid therapy is unknown. However, whether stress dose corticosteroids are necessary is now being questioned. Corticosteroids are unnecessary for minor procedures. 