| Résumé: | Background: Shivering is a frequent complication following anaesthesia, with
an incidence of between 40-60% and 36-55% following general and neuraxial
anaesthesia respectively. Shivering following spinal anesthesia is associated with many
adverse events. The pharmacological prevention for post spinal shivering is diverse and
not standardized amongst anaesthetists and evidence based protocols has not been
established. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of oral administration of
warm water administered prophylactically on the incidence of shivering after spinal
anesthesia for Caesarean section. Methods: Pregnant women at term, undergoing low-risk elective and grade 3
emergency lower segment Caesarean section under spinal anesthesia were recruited into
the study. They were randomly assigned to either to receive oral warm water after the
delivery of the fetus or to receive routine care (pharmacological treatment). They were
observed for shivering and graded according to Crossley & Mahajan grading if
shivering develops. Results: 152 patients were recruited in the study, 75 in intervention arm and 77
in control arm. The overall incidence of shivering was 48%. There was no significant
difference in the incidence of shivering between the interventional and control arms
(49% v. 46%, p=0.888). Of those developed shivering, the majority (48%) had grade 3
(moderate) shivering. Two out of the 75 in the interventional arm reported mild adverse
events (nausea and vomiting), which resolved upon reassuring them.
iv
Conclusion: There was no significant difference in shivering among those who
received oral warm water as a prophylaxis against shivering compared to the standard
care (monitoring and pharmacological treatment if shivering develops).
|
|---|
