Publications

ABSTRACT “Shivering” is one of the undesirable and distressing complications following regional anaesthesia, which
increases physiological stress. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of intravenous (IV) Dexmedetomidine to
Pethidine in the treatment of shivering following subarachnoid block. Materials and methods: 60 patients with American
Society of Anaesthesiologist’s physical status 1 and 2 posted for lower limbs surgeries under spinal anaesthesia were
divided into groups P and D. Patients in Group P and Group D received IV Pethidine 0.5 mg/kg and 0.25μg/kg of IV
Dexmedetomidine. Temperature, heart rate and blood pressure were monitored intraoperatively. Also, the time for onset,
severity and cessation of shivering was monitored in the intraoperative period. Results: The time taken for cessation of
shivering in the Pethidine and Dexmedetomidine group were 3.53 and 3.00 min, respectively, with a p-value of 0.441,
which was not statistically significant. There was no significant change in haemodynamics in the dexmedetomidine
group compared to the pethidine group. Conclusion: Intravenous Dexmedetomidine, when used at a dose of 0.25μg/kg,
was non-inferior to pethidine in reducing shivering associated with a neuraxial block during lower limb surgeries with
minimal haemodynamic changes and without any major adverse effect during the perioperative period.
KEYWORDS Spinal anaesthesia, Shivering, Pethidine, Dexmedetomidine