OAA Small Project Grant
The successful applicant for the OAA Small Project Grant was:
Principal Applicant
Dr Surbhi Malhotra
Consultant Obstetric Anaesthetist, St Mary's Hospital, London
Title
Is shivering following neuraxial blockade in obstetric patients related to changes in patient temperature? A prospective observational study.
Amount
£10,827
Scientific Abstract
One third of women will undergo neuraxial blockade (epidural, spinal or combined spinal epidural) during childbirth. Of these women up to 70% will experience the unpleasant side effect of uncontrollable shivering. Shivering is a thermoregulatory mechanism designed to increase body temperature, usually in response to cold stress. It has been postulated that shivering following neuraxial blockade is not related to changes in body temperature. This has yet to be proven. In this single centre prospective observational study we aim to describe the changes in core and surface temperature that occur following the administration of neuraxial blockade in the obstetric population and to find out if episodes of shivering are related to these temperature changes. Temperature will be monitored with thermistors placed on the skin and sublingually. Shivering will be measured using surface electromyography and triaxial accelerometers placed on trunk and limb muscles and skin blood flow will be quantified using laser doppler flowmetry. We expect to find that core temperature remains unchanged following neuraxial blockade even when shivering occurs. It is hoped that this study will be a first step towards understanding the mechanism of shivering following neuraxial blockade in the obstetric population and thus the development of new treatments.
First year report from Dr C Mullington.pdf
