Patients admitted for adenotonsillectomies after informed consent was obtained from the parents , and randomized into three groups receiving either dexamethasone sodium phosphate ( Group 1 , mean age 5.9 1.6 ) , levobupivacaine with epinephrine ( Group 2 , mean age 6.1 2.6 ) , or saline ( Group 3 , mean age 6.0 3.4 ) .