Prevention of postspinal shivering by using nefopam in comparison with clonidine

ABSTRACT

Postspinal shivering is a frequent complication following spinal anaesthesia. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of nefopam with clonidine and placebo in the prevention of postspinal shivering. We studied 60 patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Patients were located to one of three groups. Group A [n = 20] received 0.2mg.kg[-1] nefopam. Group B [n = 20] 1.5 ug.kg[-1] clonidine and group C [n = 20] saline 0.9% as placebo. We found a significant reduction in the incidence of shivering in group A compared to other groups. Both groups A and B showed reduction in the incidence and the seventy of shivering compared to placebo. At 5 minutes postoperatively clonidine treated patients showed a significant decrease in MAP. No haemodynamic or sedative adverse events were observed in the nefopam treated patients. The results of our study showed that nefopam [0.2 mg. kg[-1]] is superior to clonidine [1.5 ug.kg[-1]] in the prophylaxis of postanaesthetic shivering and not accompanied by sedative or haemodynamic side effects