Risk factors associated with intraoperative shivering during caesarean section: a prospective nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND

To study the incidence and risk factors of shivering in pregnant women during cesarean section.

METHODS

We performed a prospective nested case-control study involving parturients scheduled for cesarean sections between July 2018 and May 2021. The overall incidence of intraoperative shivering and its potential risk factors were investigated. The potential risk factors evaluated were pain, anxiety, emergency surgery, transfer from the delivery room, epidural labor analgesia, membrane rupture, labor, and the timing of the surgery. Shivering and body temperature at different time points during the cesarean section were also recorded. The selected seven time points were: entering the operating room, post-anesthesia, post-disinfection, post-delivery, post-oxytocin, post additional hysterotonics, and before leaving the operating room.

RESULTS

We analyzed 212 cesarean section parturients. The overall incidence of shivering was 89 (42.0%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that anxiety, emergency delivery, and transfer from the delivery room to the operating room increased the overall shivering incidence (odds ratio = 1.77, 2.90, and 3.83, respectively). The peak shivering incidence occurred after skin disinfection (63, 29.7%), and the lowest body temperature occurred after oxytocin treatment (36.24 ± 0.30 °C). Stratified analysis of surgery origin showed that emergency delivery was a risk factor for shivering (odds ratio = 2.99) in women transferred from the obstetric ward to the operating room.

CONCLUSION

Shivering occurred frequently during cesarean sections, with the peak incidence occurring after skin disinfection. Anxiety, emergency delivery, and transfer from the delivery room to the operating room increased the risk of shivering development during cesarean sections.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study protocol was registered online at China Clinical Registration Center (registration number: ChiCTR-ROC-17010532, Registered on 29 January 2017).