Comparing Intravenous Dexamethasone, Pethidine, and Ketamine for Postoperative Shivering Prevention in Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia

 Postoperative shivering is unpleasant and annoying for the patient, occurring in up to 65% of cases undergoing general anesthesia. Various mechanisms were suggested for postoperative shivering. Shivering after anesthesia can cause complications, such as cardiovascular conditions, bleeding, and infection. This study compared the effects of dexamethasone, pethidine, and ketamine on the prevention of shivering after general anesthesia.

 In total, 164 patients with ASA classes one and two in the age range of 20-60 years under general anesthesia with orthopedic surgery, urology, and general surgery were included in the study. This study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The study patients were divided into 4 groups of 41 subjects. After the induction of anesthesia and before surgery, in the first group, dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg body weight, in the second group, ketamine 0.5 mg/kg, in the third group, pethidine 0.5 mg/kg, and in the fourth group, normal saline 0.9% were all given in 2 cc volume. After surgery, the examined patients were monitored for visible shivering by the researcher. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS.

 The frequency and severity of shivering were lower in the dexamethasone (P=0.009), pethidine (P=0.004), and the ketamine (P=0.000) groups, compared to the control group. Besides, there was a significant difference between each of these 3 groups and the controls. The frequency and severity of shivering in the dexamethasone group were not significantly different from those of the pethidine group (P=0.565). The frequency and severity of shivering in the dexamethasone and ketamine groups were not statistically significant (P=0.071). The frequency and severity of shivering in the pethidine group with ketamine were not statistically significant (P=0.063).

 The obtained results indicated that dexamethasone, pethidine, and ketamine were effective in preventing postoperative shivering. There was no difference between these medications in the prevention of postoperative shivering.