Contribution of extradural temperature to shivering during extradural anaesthesia
Walmsley, A.J.; Giesecke, A.H.; Lipton, J.M.
British Journal of Anaesthesia 58(10): 1130-1134
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-0912 PMID: 3768225 Document Number: 283393
Thirty patients having postpartum tubal ligation under extradural anaesthesia were studied. All received bupivacaine at 4.degree. C initially and the incidence of shivering (47%), and the extradural temperatures measured with a small thermistor threaded into the extradural catheter, were recorded. To eight patients in whom the resultant shivering was marked, further bupivacaine warmed to 41.degree. C was injeced. In four of these patients, shivering was stopped. The results suggest that thermosensitive tissue within the spinal canal contributes to the shivering observed in association with extradural anaesthesia.