The Claim

A single 0.3 mg/kg intravenous dose of etomidate suppresses salivary cortisol levels in healthy children aged 3 to 12 years undergoing urologic surgery for approximately 24 hours, with significantly lower levels observed from postoperative discharge until 8:00 AM the following morning compared to propofol, despite no measurable impact on clinical outcomes.

Source: The Effects of Single-Dose Etomidate Versus Propofol on Cortisol Levels in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Urologic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
55score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In healthy children aged 3 to 12 undergoing urologic surgery, a single intravenous dose of etomidate at 0.3 mg/kg reduces salivary cortisol levels for about 24 hours compared to propofol, with lower levels persisting from discharge until 8:00 AM the next morning, without affecting clinical outcomes.

See the scientific wording

A single 0.3 mg/kg intravenous dose of etomidate suppresses salivary cortisol levels in healthy children aged 3 to 12 years undergoing urologic surgery for approximately 24 hours, with significantly lower levels observed from postoperative discharge until 8:00 AM the following morning compared to propofol, despite no measurable impact on clinical outcomes.

Why this might work

Etomidate blocks a key enzyme in the adrenal glands that makes cortisol, so the body cannot produce normal levels of this hormone for about a day after the drug is given, even though this does not change how quickly the child recovers from surgery.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: The Effects of Single-Dose Etomidate Versus Propofol on Cortisol Levels in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Urologic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

    This study found that a single shot of etomidate made kids' cortisol levels drop for about a day after surgery, but they still recovered just as well as kids who got a different drug — so the cortisol drop didn’t make them sicker or slower to heal.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

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