Anesthesia & Clinical Research
Open Access

Abstract

Magnitude and Associated Factors of Postanaesthesia Shivering Among Patients Who Operated Under General and Regional Anesthesia, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study

Hailu Tawuye Yimer, Amare Gebreegzi Hailekiros and Yilkal Desta Tadesse

Background: Post-anesthesia shivering is well-documented event which, can be distressing to patients and occasionally associated with numerous adverse effects. This study investigated the magnitude and the possible risk factors of post-anesthesia shivering. Methods: A total of 203 patients undergoing general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia were reviewed. Axillary temperature was recorded preoperatively and postoperatively every 15 minutes in the recovery. Also grade of shivering, anesthetic and surgical data, and methods used to treat shivering were recorded. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify associated factors. Results: The overall incidence of post-anesthesia shivering was 26%. Twenty-five patients had grade two shivering and six patient's grade three. In multiple logistic regression analysis, older age (AOR=0.067, CI; 0.01, 0.441; P=0.005), patients who didn't get opioid analgesics (OR=3.531; CI, 1.445, 8.73; P=0.011), and low axillary temperature (AOR=2.357, P ≤ 0.001) were considered associated factors of PAS. Conclusion and recommendation: The incidence of PAS was very high. Low axillary temperature, and patients who didn't take opioids for postoperative analgesia was factors which increase the incidence of PAS. Being older age was protective to PAS. Interventions on prevention and treatment of PAS better if focus on patients less than sixty five years old, long duration of anesthesia, and low axillary temperature to reduce the incidence. Administration of opioids for postoperative analgesia is highly recommended.