[Shivering during recovery after cardiac surgery under extracorporeal circulation. Inconveniences and methods of...

Among 109 subjects who had undergone cardiac surgery under ECC, the authors recorded 50 (45 p. 100) who suffered from shivering during the coming round period. Comparing the series of patients who shivered, with that of the subjects who did not shiver, the authors demonstrate in the first case, an increase in cellular metabolism, the cardiac index, heart rate, central venous pressure and cardiac work. They subsequently note the apprearance of mixed acidosis and an increase in the lactate-pyruvate ratio. Certain patients, in whom the cardiac output did not keep up with the metabolic demand considerably increased the arterio-venous oxygen difference. Blood loss is increased as well as coagulation time showing a more intense heparin rebound. The study of the drugs used during anesthesia showed that the patients who had received chlorprotixene, as the neuroleptic, a neuroleptic with adrenolytic properties, had a very decreased frequency of shivering in comparison with those who had received droperidol. The placing of the patient at the end of the intervention on a heating mattress, combined with the administration of chlorprotixene during anesthesia, prevented the appearance of shivering.