Aims: Shivering is discomforting to the patient and Anesthesiologist both. Various drugs have been employed to abolish the occurrence of shivering. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine in suppressing the perioperative shivering in patients undergoing transurethral resection of prostectomy (TURP) in spinal anaesthesia.

Materials and Methods: 60 patients of ASA grade I and II, aged 40-80 years, underwent spinal anesthesia for TURP procedures were allocated randomly into 2 groups with 30 patients in each group.  Group D were administered 1 mcg/kg of dexmedetomidine IV in 10 ml normal saline, while group C received similar volume of saline after achieving adequate spinal block. Haemodynamic data were

recorded during preop, intraop, and postop periods. Perioperative shivering was recorded as per Crossley and Mahajanscale¹². Side effects were also observed, recorded, and treated symptomatically. Statistical analysis was carried out using one-way ANOVA with Post Hoc Tukey HSD Test and Chi square test.  

Results:  Two groups were comparable regarding demographic profile. None of the  patients in group D developed grade 3 shivering as compared to 10 patients in group C.(P<0.05) Heart rate and mean arterial pressure also showed significant variation clinically and statistically in group D patients during and after surgery(P <0.05)). A high incidence of sedation (P<0.05)) was observed in group D, whereas the incidence of nausea and vomiting was higher in group C.

Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine seems to possess antishivering properties and was found to reduce the occurrence of shivering in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia.

Keywords: Dexmedetomidine, Spinal anaesthesia, Shivering, TURP.

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Dr Brijmohan Sharma, MD Anaesthesia

Medical Officer District Hospital Morena (M.P.)