Pattern of post-anaesthetic shivering at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos

Background : Post-anaesthetic shivering (PAS) is a common complication following anaesthesia and one of the leading causes of discomfort in patients. Aim : To determine the incidence and associated factors relating to post anaesthetic shivering. Methods :  This was a prospective study of patients who received anaesthesia over a period of 8 months at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Analysis of data from demographic and anaesthetic record including ambient theatre temperature (ATT), pre and post shivering temperature, shivering characteristics and management offered was made. Results : Four hundred consecutive patients aged 16-79 years, with a male to female ratio of 1:3.3 were studied. Mean ATT and mean body temperature at onset of shivering were 28±1.8°C and 36.26±0.6oC respectively.  Shivering occurred in 79 (19.8%) cases and was significantly associated with female gender [65(82.3%)], obstetric surgery  [46(58.2%)], regional anaesthesia (RA) [55(69.6%)], grade 2 shivering [42(53.2%)]  but not with duration of anaesthesia or degree of blood loss. Perioperative thermal care was not routine; 27(77.1%) received oxygen therapy and 84.8% described it as unbearable (p<0.05). Conclusion : PAS was associated with the female gender, obstetric surgery and RA. Hypothermia recorded in shivering patients was not statistically significant. A high mean ATT contributed to the moderately low incidence and grade of shivering. Shivering was unbearable in most  of the affected patients. Keywords : Post-anaesthetic shivering, Hypothermia, Obstetrics, Regional anaesthesia, Unbearable