Dexmedetomidine prevent postoperative shivering in patients undergoing spinal surgery

Objective To observe the effect of dexmedetomidine on preventing shivering in patients under general anesthesia after spinal surgery.Methods Ninety patients scheduled for spinal surgery were assigned randomly into two groups.After endotracheal intubation group D received dexmedetomidine as a preloading dose of 0.5 μg/kg in 10 min followed by a maintaining infusion of 0.4 μg·kg-1·h-1,while group C received normal saline infusion.HR,MAP,SpO2 and rectal temperature(T) were continually monitored during operation.In the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU),the occurrence times and grades of shivering were recorded.Pain evaluation was assessed by a visual analogue scale;sedation was evaluated by the Ramsay sedation scale as well.Results HR in group D was lower than that at baseline and group C after intubation 30,60 min and during extubation,after extubation(P0.01).MAP was lower in group D than that at baseline and group C during extubation and after extubation(P0.05).The temperature after extubation was lower than that in both groups after intubation 30,60 min and during extubation,after extubation(P0.05).The shivering rate in group D was lower than that in group C,while the shivering scores were better (P0.01).Pain scores were higher in group C (P0.05) and the ramsay sedation scores were higher in group D when compared with another group (P0.05).Conclusion Intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion may be effective in preventing post-anesthetic shivering.