CLONIDINE DECREASES POSTOPERATIVE OXYGEN CONSUMPTION IN PATIENTS RECOVERING FROM GENERAL ANAESTHESIA

Abstract
Twenty ASA I patients, undergoing thyroid surgery were allocated randomly to receive at the end of surgery either an isotonic saline solution or clonidine 2 fig kg−1 i.v. administered over 20 min. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) were measured during recovery in patients breathing spontaneously with a head canopy system. Clonidine was found to attenuate the increase in Vo2 and Vco2 associated with recovery from anaesthesia. The effect of clonidine was associated with a reduction in shivering. Sedative and analgesic properties of clonidine may also contribute to the reduction in metabolic demand during recovery from anaesthesia.

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