Effect of meperidine on oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and respiratory gas exchange in postanesthesia shivering.

Meperidine has been used to suppress postanesthesia shivering. However, its efficacy to date has only been assessed by observation of visible shivering. We measured the effect of meperidine on oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and pulmonary gas exchange in 14 otherwise healthy patients shivering after general anesthesia. Meperidine successfully suppressed visible shivering in all patients and was associated with significant decreases in VO2, and VCO2 and minute ventilation (VE) but not with return to basal levels. Arterial PCO2 levels remained unchanged at normal, whereas significant improvements occurred in pH and bicarbonate levels. Meperidine is an effective method of reducing the elevated metabolic demand of shivering.