title: Comparison of the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine, meperidine and ketamine in the prevention of postoperative shivering.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the prophylactic effectiveness of dexmedetomidine, meperidine, and ketamine for postoperative shivering.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, controlled, double-blind, clinical trial, including 160 patients (ASA I - II) undergoing surgical procedures under general anaesthesia for longer than one hour. They were randomly assigned to four groups to receive a single intravenous dose: Dexmedetomidine 1ug/kg (group A, n=33), meperidine 0.4mg/kg (group B, n=38), ketamine 0.5mg/kg (groupC, n=40), or 0.9% saline solution (group D, n=45), administered 20min before the skin suture. To avoid bias, the anaesthetic induction and maintenance technique, as well as postoperative follow-up was standardised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For any level of shivering, the greatest incidence was observed in the placebo group (47%) (P<.01). The greatest effect on shivering level 3 and 4 occurred in the placebo group (22% and 18%, respectively). For levels 3 and 4 during follow-up, there was not a single case of shivering at any time in the meperidine group (P<.01). The placebo group (38%) had the highest proportion of patients requiring treatment for post-operative shivering (P<.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Meperidine given intravenously in a single dose of 0.4mg/kg is a useful means for preventing postoperative shivering.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: faacorredor@gmail.com.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Alvarez Corredor
mesh_terms: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007649:Ketamine; D008614:Meperidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012768:Shivering
chemical_list: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D007649:Ketamine; D008614:Meperidine
keywords: Anestesia general; Dexmedetomidina; Dexmedetomidine; Escalofrío postoperatorio; General anaesthesia; Ketamina; Ketamine; Meperidina; Meperidine; Postoperative shivering; Prevención; Prevention