Shivering following neuraxial blockade in obstetric patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is shivering following neuraxial blockade in obstetric patients related to changes in patient temperature? A prospective observational study.
IRAS ID
130103
Contact name
Christopher J Mullington
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
One third of women will undergo neuraxial blockade (epidural, spinal or combined spinal epidural) during childbirth. Of these women up to 70% will experience the unpleasant and potentially harmful side effect of uncontrollable shivering. Shivering is a thermoregulatory mechanism designed to increase body temperature, usually in response to cold stress. It has been postulated that shivering following neuraxial blockade is not related to changes in body temperature. This has yet to be proven.
In this single centre prospective observational study we aim to describe the changes in core and surface temperature that occur following the administration of neuraxial blockade in the obstetric population and to find out if episodes of shivering are related to these temperature changes. Temperature will be monitored with thermistors placed on the skin and sublingually. Shivering will be measured using surface electromyography and triaxial accelerometers placed on trunk and limb muscles and skin blood flow will be quantified using laser doppler flowmetry. We expect to find that core temperature remains unchanged following neuraxial blockade even when shivering occurs.
It is hoped that this study will be a first step towards understanding the mechanism of shivering following neuraxial blockade in the obstetric population and thus the development of new treatments.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0672
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion