Which statement about postoperative shivering is NOT true?

Which statement about postoperative shivering is NOT true?

• A. May increase metabolism and oxygen consumption significantly
• B. May be treated with meperidine
• C. May be treated with droperidol
• D. Does not occur in the absence of hypothermia

Answer: (D)

Postoperative shivering isn’t limited to low body temperature; it can occur even when the core temperature is normal because anesthesia and surgical factors can disrupt the body’s thermoregulatory control and trigger shivering through non-thermogenic mechanisms. When shivering happens, it markedly increases metabolic rate and oxygen consumption, raising cardiac workload and oxygen demand—an important consideration in patients with limited cardiovascular reserve. Meperidine is particularly effective for treating shivering due to its unique central anti-shivering action on thermoregulatory pathways, making it a commonly used option. Droperidol also helps reduce shivering, acting centrally through dopamine blockade and providing antiemetic benefit as well. The statement that shivering does not occur in the absence of hypothermia is not true; shivering can occur with normothermia or other non-temperature-related triggers, which is why it’s important to recognize and treat it even when a patient isn’t overtly hypothermic.

Postoperative shivering isn’t limited to low body temperature; it can occur even when the core temperature is normal because anesthesia and surgical factors can disrupt the body’s thermoregulatory control and trigger shivering through non-thermogenic mechanisms. When shivering happens, it markedly increases metabolic rate and oxygen consumption, raising cardiac workload and oxygen demand—an important consideration in patients with limited cardiovascular reserve.

Meperidine is particularly effective for treating shivering due to its unique central anti-shivering action on thermoregulatory pathways, making it a commonly used option. Droperidol also helps reduce shivering, acting centrally through dopamine blockade and providing antiemetic benefit as well.

The statement that shivering does not occur in the absence of hypothermia is not true; shivering can occur with normothermia or other non-temperature-related triggers, which is why it’s important to recognize and treat it even when a patient isn’t overtly hypothermic.