Dexmedetomidine infusion prevents postoperative shivering in patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery

Aim: This placebo-controlled, randomized study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine in preventing postoperative shivering. Materials and methods: Sixty patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery were assigned randomly to 2 groups to be administered either dexmedetomidine as a loading of 1 mu g kg(-1) for 10 min followed by a maintenance infusion of 0.5 mu g kg(-1) h(-1) (Group D, n = 30), or a normal saline infusion (Group S, n = 30). Results: Postoperative shivering was observed in 14 patients in Group S and in 3 patients in Group D (P = 0.001). The sedation scores were higher in the dexmedetomidine group than in the saline group (P < 0.05). Postoperative pain scores were higher in the saline group for the first 40 min (P < 0.05). Perioperative tympanic temperatures were not different between the groups. Conclusion: Intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion reduces postoperative shivering in patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopy.