Comparative Study between Magnesium Sulfate and Pethidine for Controlling Shivering after Spinal Anesthesia

Abstract

Spinal anesthesia causes systemic vasodilatation and this leads to increased heat loss and hypothermia. So, shivering may occur. Shivering and hypothermia may lead to coagulopathy, wound infection, delayed wound healing and increased intracranial and intraocular pressures. Post spinal shivering should be well managed and treated either pharmacologically or non-pharmacologically. Many drugs could be given for post spinal shivering, e.g.; 5-HT, tramadol, morphine, alfentanyl, ketamine, ephedrine, pethidine and magnesium sulfate. Pethidine is a synthetic opioid with properties near those of morphine with much more rapid onset and shorter duration. It is mainly metabolized in the liver and excreted by the kidney. It is mostly used for analgesia and sedation. Its role for antishivering is not well explained but it may be attributed to its action on κ-opioid receptors