Intravenous meperidine for control of shivering during Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia

• Published in: Canadian journal of anesthesia Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 128 - 133
• Main Authors: CASEY, W. F, SMITH, C. E, KATZ, J. M, O'LOUGHLIN, K, WEEKS, S. K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Toronto, ON Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society 01.03.1988
• Subjects: Abdominal surgery. Urology. Gynecology. Obstetrics; Adult; Anesthesia; Anesthesia depending on type of surgery; Anesthesia, Epidural; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Body Temperature - drug effects; Cesarean Section; Female; Heart Rate - drug effects; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Lidocaine; Medical sciences; Meperidine - administration & dosage; Meperidine - therapeutic use; Oxygen Consumption - drug effects; Pregnancy; Respiration - drug effects; Shivering - drug effects; Human; Intravenous administration; Extradural administration; Local anesthesia; General anesthesia; Shivering; Obstetric; Cesarean section
• ISSN: 0832-610X; 1496-8975
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03010651

To determine the efficacy of meperidine in controlling shivering during epidural anaesthesia for Caesarean section, forty-six parturients were studied. After delivery of the infant, shivering patients received either a single dose of intravenous meperidine 50 mg, or saline in a randomized double-blind fashion. Shivering was classified on a scale of 0 to 3 (grade 0 = none, grade 3 = severe shivering that was distressing to the patient and interfered with monitoring). Shivering and other variables were recorded at epidural placement, skin incision, delivery, and 2, 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes following injection. Administration of meperidine resulted in a significant decrease in both the overall incidence of shivering (87 to 35 per cent, p less than 0.01) and severity of shivering (grade 3:57 to 0 per cent, p less than 0.01), compared with saline (incidence: 87 to 83 per cent, grade 3:57 per cent, no change). This effect was apparent within two minutes of drug injection and persisted throughout the study period. There were no differences in vital signs, oxygen saturation or temperature between groups. The incidence of nausea was similar, although patients receiving meperidine were more drowsy at two and five minutes following injection (p less than 0.01) compared with patients in the saline group. There were no differences in level of consciousness at the later intervals. The mechanism of action of meperidine on shivering remains to be elucidated.