Comparing the Effects of Using Isoflurane and Propofol on Shivering after General Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Elective General and Orthopedic Surgeries

Background: Chills are muscle contractions and involuntary movements that the patient is not able to control them. Chill (shivering) is a frequent complication after the general anesthesia, which is due to the use of anesthesia drugs and hypothermia; it can increase oxygen intake, systemic blood pressure, and heart rate and can cause cardiac arrhythmias in patients. One of the mechanisms for decreasing postoperative shivering, is the use of the drugs that create less shivering. A variety of anesthetic drugs are used during anesthesia that each one has its own special side effects (complications). The aim of this study was to compare the effects of isuflorane and propofol on postoperative shivering in patients underwent general anesthesia for elective general or orthopedic surgeries. Methods: In a double-blinded clinical trial study, 100 patients at the age of 18-65 years, who underwent elective orthopedic and general surgery in Imam Khomeini Hospital in city of Ilam, Iran, were randomly divided in two groups of 50 during the years 2012-2013. The occurrence and severity of postoperative shivering was compared in the two groups and via 0-3 classification scoring. The findings were analyzed via SPSS software using paired-t and chi-square tests. Findings: 47% of the patients were women and 53% were men. Between the gender and postoperative shivering (P = 0.067) as well as between the age and postoperative shivering (P = 0.774), no significant relationship was found. There was no significant difference between the two groups of isoflurane and propofol in postoperative shivering (P = 0.211). Conclusion: In adult patients undergoing elective general or orthopedic surgery, to reduce the postoperative shivering, there was no difference in using isoflurane or propofol.