title: Comparison between alfentanil, pethidine and placebo in the treatment of post-anaesthetic shivering.
abstract: We have compared the effects of pethidine, alfentanil and placebo in the treatment of post-anaesthetic shivering. Ninety patients who shivered after routine surgery were allocated randomly to receive normal saline (n = 30), alfentanil 250 micrograms (n = 30) or pethidine 25 mg (n = 30). After 10 min, 26 patients had stopped shivering in the pethidine group which was significantly more than the incidence in the two other groups (placebo = 7; alfentanil = 12) (P < 0.0002). Alfentanil was not significantly different from normal saline in affecting shivering. We conclude that alfentanil 250 micrograms was not effective in the treatment of post-anaesthetic shivering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield.
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Wrench
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavill
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Crossley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015760:Alfentanil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012768:Shivering / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D015760:Alfentanil; D008614:Meperidine