OBJECTIVE : To determine the efficacy of pethidine or clonidine in preventing postanesthetic shivering if administered at the end of surgery. STUDY DESIGN : Randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING : Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital a national refferal center hospital in Jakarta. PATIENTS : One hundred and two consecutive patients (ASA I & II) undergoing elective simple and superficial procedures. INTERVENTIONS : All patients received induction of 5 mg/kg thiopental,
1 - 2 ug/kg fentanyl and 0,1 mg/kg pancuronium, lung were ventilated with enflurane vaporized in 65% N20 and 33% 02. Patients randomly allocated to one of two group to receive either clonidine (2 ug/kg) or pethidine (0,315 ug/kg) at the time hen enflurane was stop. Main Outcome Measure : heart rate, arterial blood pressure and rectal temperature and the incidence of the
postanesthetic shivering were measure every five minutes. RESULTS : The incidence of the postanesthetic shivering in the clonidine group (25 %) was less than in the pethidine group (58%) Heart rate and blood pressure value after the administration of clonidine were lower than after pethidine. CONCLUSION : Postoperative administration of clonidine (2 ug/kg) is suitable for prevention of postanesthetic shivering.
