Korean J Anesthesiol.  2010 Dec;59(6):389-393. 10.4097/kjae.2010.59.6.389.

Intrathecal meperidine reduces intraoperative shivering during transurethral prostatectomy in elderly patients

• Chun DH
• Kil HK
• Kim HJ
• Park C
• Chung KH

• KMID: 1766498
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2010.59.6.389

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Shivering is a frequent event during the perioperative period. We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blind study to determine whether intrathecal meperidine (0.2 mg/kg) decreases the incidence and intensity of shivering after spinal anesthesia for transurethral operations.
METHODS
Fifty patients scheduled for elective transurethral resection operations under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to two groups. Spinal anesthesia consisted of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 8 mg and, mperidine (0.2 mg/kg) (meperidine group) or, normal saline (saline group). Data collection, including sensory block level (by pinprick), blood pressure, heart rate, sublingual temperature, incidence and intensity of shivering, pruritus, nausea, and vomiting was performed at 10 minute intervals.
RESULTS
The incidence and intensity of shivering was significantly less in the meperidine group than saline group (P = 0.012 and P = 0.008, for incidence and intensity, respectively). However, pruritus was more common in the meperidine group compared with the saline group (16% vs. 0%, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The addition of meperidine 0.2 mg/kg to intrathecal bupivacaine lowers the incidence and severity of shivering during transurethral prostatectomy in elderly patients.

Keyword

Anesthesia; Meperidine; Shivering; Spinal

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, Spinal
Blood Pressure
Bupivacaine
Data Collection
Double-Blind Method
Heart Rate
Humans
Incidence
Meperidine
Nausea
Perioperative Period
Prospective Studies
Pruritus
Shivering
Transurethral Resection of Prostate
Vomiting
Bupivacaine
Meperidine