COMPARISON OF DEXMEDETOMIDINE AND TRAMADOL FOR CONTROL OF SHIVERING IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ELECTIVE SURGERIES WITH SPINAL ANESTHESIA

Abstract

Objective: To compare intravenous Dexmedetomidine and Tramadol for control of shivering following spinal anaesthesia. Methods: This prospective, randomised, double blind study was conducted in 60 adult patients aged 18 to 60 years with ASA physical status I or II undergoing elective surgery under spinal anaesthesia. Patients who developed grade 2 or higher shivering were randomly assigned to receive intravenous Dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg/kg or Tramadol 0.5 mg/kg infused over 20 minutes. Shivering severity was assessed using the Wrench scale. Statistical analysis compared continuous and categorical variables between groups, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Demographic profile and baseline parameters were comparable between groups, with equal gender distribution and similar mean body weight. Time to cessation of shivering was shorter in the dexmedetomidine group (172.7 ± 20.7 seconds) compared with the tramadol group (272.4 ± 19.0 seconds). Shivering recurrence occurred in 6.7% of patients receiving dexmedetomidine and 23.3% receiving tramadol. A significant difference was observed at T3 for pulse rate (64.9 ± 8.1 vs 69.9 ± 7.5 bpm; p = 0.02) and diastolic blood pressure (74.9 ± 6.7 vs 79.9 ± 6.9 mmHg; p = 0.006). Conclusion: Intravenous dexmedetomidine showed faster and more sustained control of post spinal anaesthesia shivering than tramadol. Slow infusion of both drugs maintained haemodynamic stability thus proving that dexmedetomidine is an effective option for shivering control during spinal anaesthesia.