A randomized controlled double blind study to compare efficacy,potency and safety of clonidine and tramadol for postspinalanaesthesia shivering in cesarean section

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, potency and side effects of clonidine as compared to tramadol in post–spinal anaesthesia shivering. In this prospective double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 90 American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade-l (ASAI) parturients aged between 18 and 35 years scheduled for lower segment cesarean section under spinal anaesthesia,who developed shivering were selected.The patients were divided into two groups. Group C (n=45) comprised of patients who received clonidine 0.5µg/kg intravenously (IV) and group T(n=45) patients who received tramadol 0.5 mg/kg IV. Grade of shivering, disappearance of shivering, haemodynamics and side effects were observed at scheduled intervals. Disappearance of shivering was significantly earlier in group C (3.02±0.56) than in group T (6.1±1.0) (P=.000001). Response rate to treatment in group C was higher (97.7%) than in group T (93.7%), but the difference was not significant. Nausea, vomiting and dizziness were found to be higher in group T s while the patients in group C were comparatively more sedated (sedation level, 2; group C, 33.3%). We conclude that clonidine gives better thermodynamics than tramadol, with fewer side effects.