Prophylactic dexamethasone or pethidine for the prevention of postoperative shivering during transurethral resection of the prostate under spinal anesthesia

Background Shivering is a common complication in elderly patients undergoing urologic operations under spinal anesthesia. The present study compares the effect of prophylactic dexamethasone and pethidine on shivering during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) under spinal anesthesia. Patients and methods This random prospective double-blinded controlled study was conducted on 90 patients scheduled for TURP operations under spinal anesthesia. Patients were allocated into three groups: in the C group, patients were administered intravenous 10 ml normal saline before spinal anesthesia. In the P group, patients were administered 25 mg pethidine in 10 ml normal saline. In the D group, patients were administered 0.1 mg/kg dexamethasone in 10 ml normal saline. Core body temperature, mean arterial blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, incidence and severity of shivering, nausea, vomiting, and pruritus were recorded. Results The incidence and severity of shivering were low in the pethidine and dexamethasone groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05), with no significant difference between the pethidine and dexamethasone groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Prophylactic dexamethasone is as effective as pethidine in reducing the incidence and severity of shivering in TURP patients under spinal anesthesia.