Intrathecal Fentanyl for Prevention of Shivering in Cesarean section
Anchalee Techanivate, MD*, Oraluxna Rodanant, MD*, Wasinee Tachawattanawisal, MD*, Terapol Somsiri, MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University Hospital
Objectives : The aim of this randomized double-blind study was to investigate whether 20 µg of intrathecally
administered fentanyl would influence the incidence and severity of shivering in patients undergoing
cesarean section.
Materials and Methods : Sixty healthy patients scheduled for cesarean section under spinal anesthesia using
2.2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 0.2 ml of morphine 0.2 mg, were randomly allocated to receive an
additional 0.4 ml of fentanyl 20 mg intrathecally (Group F) or normal saline 0.4 ml (Group S).
Results : The incidence of shivering three hours after spinal anesthesia was 6 of 30 patients, 20% in Group F
and 15 of 30 patients, 50% in Group S. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Almost all of the
shivering patients started in their first hour after spinal anesthesia (5 patients in Group F and 13 patients in
Group S). None in Group F but 4 patients in Group S started shivering before their babies were delivered. The
shivering score was also significantly lower in Group F (p < 0.05). Treatment for shivering was requested in
16% and 26% of the shivering patients in Group F and Group S, respectively. There was no difference in the
incidence of pharmacologic side effects. The core temperature did not differ significantly between the groups
during 3 hours after spinal anesthesia.
Conclusion : The addition of 20 µg fentanyl in 2.2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 0.2 ml of morphine
0.2 mg intrathecally can reduce the incidence and severity of intraoperative and postoperative shivering after
spinal anesthesia for patients who were receiving cesarean section without increasing other side effects.
Keywords : Intrathecal opioid, Postoperative, Shivering, Fentanyl, Cesarean section.
