The Prophylactic Administration of Intravenous Paracetamol for Control of Shivering During and After Cesarean Section Under Spinal Anesthesia

Abstract

Background: Shivering refers to a series of repetitive involuntary movements of the skeletal muscles commonly occurring during spinal anesthesia. Regional anesthesia (both spinal and Epidural) reduces vasoconstriction and shivering threshold to 6 degrees Celsius above the surface of the block. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of prophylactic administration of intravenous paracetamol in controlling shivering during and after cesarean section under spinal anesthesia.

Methods: In a double-blind randomized clinical trial in the Department of Anesthesiology of Tabriz on patients undergoing cesarean section with spinal anesthesia, the effect of prophylactic administration of paracetamol IV in controlling shivering during and after cesarean section under spinal anesthesia was evaluated.

Results: The mean gestational age of patients was 37.94±1.07 weeks in paracetamol group and 37.58±2.07 weeks in the control group (p=0.278). The mean shivering scores of patients in paracetamol group were 0.72±0.80 in the operating room and 1.32±1.05 in recovery room (P<0.001). The mean shivering scores of patients in control group were 1.16±1.07 in the operating room and 2.28±1.45 in recovery room (P<0.001). The mean increase of shivering score in patients was 0.60±0.98 in paracetamol group and 1.12±1.46 in the control group. The mean increase of shivering score in patients in paracetamol group was significantly less than the control group (p=0.041).

Conclusion: In the present study, the prophylactic use of intravenous acetaminophen reduced the rate of increase of shivering in patients after spinal anesthesia. Postoperative complications in patients in paracetamol group was less than the control group, however, this difference was not statistically significant.