Transient neurological symptoms after subarachnoid meperidine

Prophylactic effects of intrathecal Meperidine and intravenous Ondansetron on shivering in patients undergoing lower extremity orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia

Objective:

Intraoperative hypothermia is a common problem with anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia, the same as general anesthesia, affects the process of temperature regulation. The aim of this study was to compare the prophylactic effect of intravenous (IV) ondansetron with intrathecal (IT) meperidine on prevention of shivering during spinal anesthesia in patients underwent orthopedic surgery of the lower limb.

Methods:

In this study, 120 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to II, between the ages 16 and 65 were randomized into three groups. Group O and Group M were given IV ondansetron 8 mg and IT meperidine 0.2 mg/kg, before spinal anesthesia, respectively. Group C received IV saline 0.9%. The core and ambient temperatures, the incidence and intensity of shivering, blood pressure, heart rate, and maximum level of sensory block were recorded.

Findings:

Shivering was observed in 15%, 2.5%, and 37.5% of patients in Groups O, M, and C, respectively. There was a significant difference between Group O and M compared to Group C (P = 0.023 for Group O vs. Group C, P < 0.001 for Group M vs. Group C, P = 0.049 for Group M vs. Group O). Shivering incidence and intensity in Group M was significantly lower than Group O (P = 0.049 and P = 0.047, respectively). Twenty-two patients required additional IV meperidine among which 15 patients were from Group C (37.5%), six patients from Group O (15%) and one patient from Group M (2.5%).

Conclusion:

We concluded that IT meperidine and IV ondansetron comparably can decrease intensity and incidence of shivering compared to control group as well as decreasing the requirement to additional doses of meperidine for shivering the control without any hemodynamic side effect.

Effect of preoperative warming during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia

Background

Postoperative hypothermia and shivering is a frequent event in patients during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. We assessed the effect of preoperative warming during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia for prevention of hypothermia and shivering.

Methods

Forty five patients undergoing elective cesarean section were randomly assigned to three groups. Group F received warmed intravenous fluid (40℃). Group A patients were actively warmed by forced air-warming. Group C was the control group. Forced air-warming and warmed fluid was maintained for the 15 min preceding spinal anesthesia. Core temperature (tympanic membrane) and the skin temperature of arm and thigh were measured and shivering was graded simultaneously.

Results

The core temperature at 45 min decreased less in Groups F and A than Group C (-0.5℃ ± 0.3℃ vs -0.6℃ ± 0.4℃ vs -0.9℃ ± 0.4℃, respectively; P = 0.004). The arm temperature at 15 min and 30 min exhibited a greater increase in Group A than Group F and Group C (P = 0.001 and P = 0.012, respectively). Leg temperature increased similarly among the three groups. The incidence of shivering was significantly less in Group A and Group F than Group C (20%, 13.3%, and 53.3%, respectively; P = 0.035).

Conclusions

Preoperative forced air-warming and warmed fluid prevents hypothermia and shivering in patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia.