ABSTRACT
One hundred and sixty patients undergoing minor surgical procedures were randomly allocated to receive either thiopentone or propofol for induction of anaesthesia. All patients were assessed in the recovery period for the development of postanaesthetic shivering. Twenty patients (25%) in the thiopentone group and 8 patients (10%) in the propofol group developed postanaesthetic shivering (P <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in tympanic temperature between shivering and non-shivering patients. Propofol as an induction agent is associated with a lower incidence of postanaesthetic shivering as compared to thiopentone.
The incidence of shivering following general anaesthesia varies from 5% to 65%. Postanaesthetic shivering may increase tissue oxygen demand by as much as 500% and accompanied by increases in minute ventilation and cardiac output to maintain aerobic metabolism.
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