The Effect Of Dexamethasone And Pethidine In Lowering The Incidence Of Shivering In Caesarean Section Patients Under Spinal Anaesthesia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Shivering is an increased muscular activity that can caused by spinal anaesthesia. Dexamethasone is a steroid drug that can lower the incidence of post anaesthetic shivering by decreasing the dermal temperature and core temperature gradient. This study aimed to compare the effect of dexamethasone and pethidine in lowering the incidence of shivering in caesarean section patients under spinal anaesthesia.METHOD: This was a post-test control group clinical trial study conducted in Central Surgical Unit at RSUP H Adam Malik Medan and University of North Sumatera Hospital for 3 months. A total of 81 samples were divided into 3 groups (pethidine; dexamethasone; normal saline, NS). Randomized triple blind method was used. The variables were tested using chi square (p<0,05).RESULT: Shivering was found in all study groups (pethidine 25,9%; dexamethasone 37%; NS 59,3%). The percentages of grade 0 shivering were 74,1%, 63%, and 40,7% in pethidine, dexamethasone, and NS group respectively (p value 0,011). There was no incidence of grade 4 shivering in pethidine group.CONCLUSION: The effects of pethidine, dexamethasone, and NS in lowering the incidence of post anaesthesia shivering in caesarean section patients under spinal anaesthesia were statistically significant (p value 0,04). There was a significant difference in shivering incidence based on shivering assessment scale among all study groups (p value 0,011).