The effect of intravenous infusion of paracetamol before anesthesia induction on the core and peripheral temperature changes and post-operative shivering in patients undergoing general anesthesia

Post-operative shivering is an unpleasant complication that various drugs are used to prevent and treat. It is tried to advice a suitable drug with the least side-effects. This study was carried out to examine the effect of intravenous Apotel on the post-operative shivering and core and peripheral body temperature.

This clinical trial conducted in Al Zahra and Kashani Hospitals in Isfahan in 2012 on 64 patients undergoing upper limbs surgery with general anesthesia, which divided in two equal groups. In the first group, before induction, 15 mg/kg and up to 1 g paracetamol was infused in 100 cc normal saline within 20 min and control group was infused 100 cc normal saline during 20 min. Post-operative shivering and pain were recorded in the same time in addition to the core and peripheral temperature. The results were analyzed by SPSS ve.20 software.

In patients receiving Apotel, the core and peripheral temperature were significantly lower (P < 0.05). At 10 min after entering in recovery, 10 patients in the control group and 2 in the intervention group suffered from shivering (31.2% vs. 6.2%), which was significantly different (P = 0.02). Nineteen patients (29.7%) suffered from shivering in recovery (14 patients in the control group and 5 patients in the intervention group (43.8% vs. 15.6%)). In Apotel receiving group, the incidence of shivering in recovery was significantly lower (P = 0.014).

Given the beneficial effects of Apotel in post-operative shivering and pain reduction, using the drug as a pre-drug is recommended in patients undergoing surgery with general anesthesia.