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Prevention of post-anaesthetic shivering under subarachnoid block for lower limb surgeries: A randomised controlled study comparing nefopam and tramadol


R.O. Shoyemi
O.M. Fatungase
O.A. Soyannwo
S.O. Olateju
E.A. Emmanuel
L.O. Thanni
E.O. Elegbe

Abstract

Objectives: Shivering is one of the frequent, undesirable and unpleasant effects of spinal anaesthesia that can be prevented by several  means including, pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods.


Methods: Patients between 18 and 65 years were randomly assigned into two groups (A or B). Group A patients received intravenous  0.3mg/kg nefopam while Group B patients received intravenous 0.5mg/kg tramadol just before the institution of subarachnoid block. The  parameters assessed were: the incidence of post-spinal anaesthetic shivering, its' severity, and the side-effects of the two drugs.  Changes in haemodynamic parameters, temperature, peripheral arterial oxygen saturation and temperature were also evaluated.


Results: Thirty- four patients (100%) in group A and twenty-eight patients (82.35%) in group B, were shivering-free. Thus, only six patients  (17.65%) in Group B shivered intra-operatively; p= 0.025, which is statistically significant. The severity of post-anaesthetic  shivering was assessed to be grade 2 in three patients (8.82%), while it was grade 1 in the remaining three patients (8.82%). Four patients  experienced nausea in group B, but none in group A; p = 0.114 No episode of vomiting was observed in both groups.


Conclusion:  Nefopam is better than tramadol for the prevention of intraoperative shivering under spinal anaesthesia. 


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2467-8252
print ISSN: 2360-7793