I.V. Clonidine for post-extradural shivering in parturients: A preliminary study

Abstract

We have studied the efficacy of i. v. clonidine to suppress post-extradural shivering in parturients. Forty healthy parturients who received extradural block for labour (n=20) or for Caesarean section (n=20) and who required treatment for shivering after delivery were allocated randomly to two groups. Group I received i. v. clonidine 30 μg diluted in sailne to a total volume of 5 ml (therapeutic solution). This bolus was repeated every 5 min if the initial therapy produced no improvement, up to a maximum dose of 90 μg. Group II received saline 5 ml (placebo solution), repeated every 5 min if the initial bolus produced no improvement, up to a maximum of three boluses. After 15 min of observation, patients in group I received the placebo solution and those in group II received the study solution. All patients who received clonidine improved, and 75% ceased to shiver within 5 min after only one dose of clonidine 30 μg. In contrast, none of the patients treated with saline improved. When patients in the placebo group received clonidine, improvement occurred. Arterial pressure, heart rate, core and peripheral temperature and oxygen saturation did not differ significantly between and within the groups before and after administration of clonidine. We conclude that a small dose of i.v. clonidine may be useful to suppress post-extradural shivering in parturients. © 1993 British Journal of Anaesthesia.