Publication:

Post spinal anaesthesia shivering- incidence and associated risk factors in patients undergoing lower limb and abdominal surgeries

Background This study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of shivering and likely associated risk factors following spinal anaesthesia in patients undergoing lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries.

Methods The present study was conducted in MMIMSR, Department of anaesthesia from December 2016 to September 2018. It was an observational study which was conducted over a period of 2 years. Patients who were scheduled to undergo elective lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries under spinal anaesthesia were included in study.

Results The present study depicts a high incidence of post spinal shivering, which was 42.8%. Majority of the patients belonged to the young age group between 20-30 years. The mean time of onset of shivering, was around 25 mins. Duration of shivering was observed between 15-75 minutess with a mean of 43.75 and SD±19.39.

Conclusions Shivering is one of the distressing complications of spinal block, which may be deleterious to the patients with poor cardio-respiratory reserve.