DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i03.059

Pages: 1166-1172

Shivering is very unpleasant and stressful for the patient during perioperative period. Various pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods have been tried for controlling intraoperative shivering with varying success. Here we are comparing the effects of 0.5µg/kg of iv.Dexmeditomidine with 0.5mg/kg of iv.Tramadol for the treatment of shivering developed intraoperatively after spinal anesthesia. This prospective randomized double blind comparative study was conducted in the Department of Anesthesiology of a tertiary care hospital. 100 patients who developed shivering intraoperatively after spinal anesthesia were enrolled in this study and randomized equally into two groups. Group I received 0.5µg/kg of iv.Dexmeditomidine and Group II received 0.5mg/kg of iv.Tramadol after the development of shivering. Response rate, time of cessation of shivering, recurrence, hemodynamics, temperature and side effects were noted. The data obtained was compiled systematically and analyzed statistically using Students T test and chi-square test. Shivering ceased in all patients who received Dexmeditomidine and Tramadol. Time of cessation of shivering was significantly less with Dexmeditomidine than with Tramadol (P<0.001). Recurrence rate of shivering with Dexmeditomidine was less compared to Tramadol. Nausea and vomiting occurred significantly more in Tramadol group. Dexmeditomidine caused moderate sedation. There was no hemodynamic instability in either group. In conclusion, Dexmeditomidine is equally effective as Tramadol and provides faster relief from shivering with comfortable sedation with less side effects.