Effect of Clonidine for Suppression of Shivering after General Anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

ABSTRACT

We have studied the efficacy of intravenous clonidine to suppress postoperative shivering. Forty healthy patients who received general anesthesia and required treatment for shivering after operation were allocated randomly to two groups. Group 1 received normal saline 5 ml. Group 2 received 75 mcg intravenous clonidine. 2 minutes, 5 minutes and 10 minutes after treatment, the efficacy of treatment was recorded. Five minutes after treatment, 75 mcg clonidine obliterated shivering in 80% of patients. In contrast, none of the patients treated with normal saline had improved. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were decreased significantly in patients given 75 mcg intravenous clonindine. But, none of them had required treatment for hypotension or bradycardia. We might say that 75 mcg intravenous clonidine is effective to suppress postoperative shivering without significant side effects.