title: Reduction in the incidence of shivering with perioperative dexmedetomidine: A randomized prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Shivering is distressing to the patient and discomforting to the attending anesthesiologist, with a varying degree of success. Various drugs and regimens have been employed to abolish the occurrence of shivering. The present study aims to explore the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine in suppressing the postanesthetic shivering in patients undergoing general anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was carried out on 80 patients, in American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II, aged 22-59 years, who underwent general anesthesia for laparoscopic surgical procedures. Patients were allocated randomly into two groups: group N (n = 40) and group D (n = 40). Group D were administered 1 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine intravenously, while group N received similar volume of saline during peri-op period. Cardiorespiratory parameters were observed and recorded during the preop, intraop, and postop periods. Any incidence of postop shivering was observed and recorded as per 4 point scale. Side effects were also observed, recorded, and treated symptomatically. Statistical analysis was carried out using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 15.0 for windows and employing ANOVA and chi-square test with post-hoc comparisons with Bonferroni's correction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups were comparable regarding demographic profile (P > 0.05). Incidence of shivering in group N was 42.5%, which was statistically highly significant (P = 0.014). Heart rate and mean arterial pressure also showed significant variation clinically and statistically in group D patients during the postop period (P = 0.008 and 0.012). A high incidence of sedation (P = 0.000) and dry mouth (P = 0.000) was observed in group D, whereas the incidence of nausea and vomiting was higher in group N (P = 0.011 and 0.034).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dexmedetomidine seems to possess antishivering properties and was found to reduce the occurrence of shivering in patients undergoing general anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Ram Nagar, Banur, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Sukhminder Jit Singh
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bajwa
authors.forename: Sachin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Jasbir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Amarjit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Ss
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parmar