Evaluation of the Efficacy of Dexamethasone Versus Magnesium Sulfate in Prevention of Postspinal Shivering: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study

Background: Postspinal shivering represents one of the distressing complications of regional anesthesia. This study evaluated the efficacy of dexamethasone and magnesium sulfate to prevent postspinal shivering (PSAS) in lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries. Materials and Methods: Hundred forty-seven patients undergoing elective abdominal and lower limb surgery under spinal anesthesia received either 100 mL isotonic saline (group C), 8 mg in 100 mL isotonic saline (group D), or magnesium sulfate 30 mg/kg in 100 mL isotonic saline (Group M). Results: The incidence of clinically significant shivering was highly significantly less in group D and group M compared to group C (p=0.001), however, there was no statistically significant difference between group D and group M (p=0.052). The onset of shivering was significantly lower in the C group compared to the D and M groups with statistically significant differences between the D and M groups (p=0.001). Conclusion: Dexamethasone and magnesium sulfate were effective in the prevention of PSAS in patients undergoing lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries under spinal anesthesia. However, magnesium sulfate is better than dexamethasone as it is accompanied by less incidence of shivering, and its sedative effect decreases the stress of the surgery.