Comparison of butorphanol and clonidine for control of intraoperative shivering under spinal anaesthesia at a tertiary hospital

Abstract

Background: Spinal anaesthesia is world-widely used as a safe anaesthetic technique elective as well as emergency surgeries. Spinal anesthesia is known to decrease the vasoconstriction and shivering thresholds leading to shivering. In present study we compared butorphanol and clonidine for control of intraoperative shivering after spinal anaesthesia at our tertiary hospital. Material and Methods: Present study was a comparative, clinical, interventional study conducted in patients aged between 18-68 years, of either sex, had American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I/II, scheduled for elective lower abdominal surgeries under subarachnoid block. 60 patients were randomly allocated into group B (n= 30, received sintravenous bolus butorphanol) and group C (n= 30, received intravenous bolus of clonidine). Results: 60 patients were randomly allocated into group B (n= 30, received butorphanol) and group C (n= 30, received clonidine). We compared age (years), weight (Kg), BMI(Kg/m2), Gender (Male/Female) and ASA grade between both groups and no statistically significant difference was noted among them. We noted earlier onset of sensory as well as motor block and prolonged duration of sensory as well as motor block in butorphanol group as compared to clonidine group and difference was statistically significant. Incidence of shivering was more in clonidine group as compared to butorphanol group and difference was statistically significant. Also hypotension was more in clonidine group as compared to butorphanol group and difference was statistically significant. Similar incidence of bradycardia was noted in both groups. Conclusion: We noted that butorphanol is more effective than clonidine in the treatment of shivering because of its faster onset, lesser recurrence rate, and less complications reported.