Incidence of postoperative shivering comparing remifentanil with other opioids: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Study objective: To determine whether the administration of remifentanil increases the incidence of postoperative shivering in comparison with the administration of alfentanil, fentanyl, or sufentanil.

Design: Meta-analysis.

Setting: Operating room and postanesthesia care unit.

Measurements: We performed a computerized search of articles on PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager and the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. The pooled effect estimates for binary variables were calculated as relative risk (RR) values with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Main results: Eighteen randomized controlled trials met our inclusion criteria. Remifentanil was associated with a significantly increased incidence of postoperative shivering compared with other opioids (RR=2.17; CI, 1.76-2.68; P<.00001; I(2)=0.00%). A subgroup analysis of remifentanil compared with alfentanil, fentanyl, or sufentanil showed that only sufentanil had a similar rate of postoperative shivering incidence (RR=2.13; CI, 0.67-6.74; P=.20; I(2)=0.00%). Remifentanil administration was associated with a significant increase in the incidence of postoperative shivering compared with the administration of other opioids when both propofol (RR=2.44; CI, 1.52-3.92; P=.0002; I(2)=0.00%) and inhalation anesthesia drugs (RR=2.45; CI, 1.46-4.11; P=.0007; I(2)=0.00%) were used for anesthesia maintenance. In addition, the administration of remifentanil at both low (RR=2.06; CI, 1.63-2.60; P<.00001; I(2)=0.00%) and high dosages (RR=2.77; CI, 1.67-4.57; P<.0001; I(2)=0.00%) was associated with a significant increase in the incidence of postoperative shivering compared with the administration of other opioids.

Conclusions: Our meta-analysis showed that remifentanil was associated with an increased incidence of postoperative shivering compared with alfentanil or fentanyl, but no significant difference was seen when compared with sufentanil.

Keywords: Postoperative shivering; Remifentanil.