Role of serratiopeptidase and dexamethasone in the control of postoperative swelling

Abstract

Aim: The present study is designed to evaluate and compare the ability of serratiopeptidase and dexamethasone to control edema following the surgical removal of mandibular third molar. Materials and Methods: Two drugs, dexamethasone and serratiopeptidase, were compared for its efficacy in reducing the postoperative swelling. A total of 100 patients requiring the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar were randomly divided into two groups, consisting of 50 patients each. One group was administered 1 mg dexamethasone, one-half h preoperatively and every 8 th hourly for 3 days postoperatively. The other group was given 10 mg serratiopeptidase every 8 th hourly for 3 days postoperatively. The swelling was measured on 1 st , 2 nd , 5 th , and 7 th postoperative days. The results of this study showed that serratiopeptidase was effective in reducing swelling from 2 nd to 5 th postoperative day, and dexamethasone was effective in reducing swelling from 1 st to 2 nd postoperative day, further, it also reduced the swelling from 2 nd to 5 th postoperative day. Results: There was highly significant difference in the facial measurement between serratiopeptidase and dexamethasone group on postoperative day 2 (the mean difference was 62.5 with P < 0.001) and statistically significant difference on postoperative day 1, day 5, and day 7 ( P < 0.01). Conclusion: It can be concluded that serratiopeptidase, a proteolytic enzyme and dexamethasone, a long-acting corticosteroid was effective in reducing the swelling, but dexamethasone was more effective than serratiopeptidase in reducing the swelling.