Effects of Shenfu injection on shivering prevention and hemodynamic impact in elderly patients underwent transurethral resection of the prostate

Abstract We aim to investigate the effect of Shenfu injection before anesthesia on shivering and its impact on hemodynamic parameters. Eighty patients underwent transurethral resection of the prostate were randomized and received 50 mL Shenfu injection (experiment group) or 50 mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection (control group) before anesthesia. Incidence of shivering, axillary temperature, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were monitored before, during, and after surgery. Compared to the control group, patients in the experiment group had significantly less decrease in temperature (36.02 ± 0.29 °C in the experiment group versus 35.50 ± 0.33 °C in the control group, p = 0.047). Patients in the experiment group had lower incidence of shivering (10% in the experiment group versus 27.5% in the control group, p = 0.042). On average, patients in the experiment group had significantly more stable hemodynamic parameters: with lower heart rate, less decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05 for all). No significant difference in adverse events were observed. Our study demonstrated that among elderly patients who received transurethral resection of prostate under combined spinal and epidural anesthesia, Shenfu injection before anesthesia prevented postoperative shivering and reduced the temperature and hemodynamic perturbation of anesthesia and surgery.