Shivering following retrobulbar block. 1988

D S Lee, and N J Kwon
Department of Anaesthesiology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037.

A case of a severe but brief period of shivering following a retrobulbar block (RBB) is presented. The shivering occurred within two minutes after completion of the RBB and subsided gradually within five minutes, without specific treatment. The patient remained conscious during the episode of shivering. The shivering was so abrupt and severe as to be misjudged as a seizure, but its onset appeared to be slower than a seizure. The mechanism of shivering appeared to be the central spread of local anaesthetic solution into the brain stem, along the optic nerve. Shivering may be a warning sign of brain stem anaesthesia and demands special care to anticipate life-threatening complications.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009407 Nerve Block Interruption of NEURAL CONDUCTION in peripheral nerves or nerve trunks by the injection of a local anesthetic agent (e.g., LIDOCAINE; PHENOL; BOTULINUM TOXINS) to manage or treat pain. Chemical Neurolysis,Chemodenervation,Nerve Blockade,Block, Nerve,Blockade, Nerve,Blockades, Nerve,Blocks, Nerve,Chemical Neurolyses,Chemodenervations,Nerve Blockades,Nerve Blocks,Neurolyses, Chemical,Neurolysis, Chemical
D001933 Brain Stem The part of the brain that connects the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES with the SPINAL CORD. It consists of the MESENCEPHALON; PONS; and MEDULLA OBLONGATA. Brainstem,Truncus Cerebri,Brain Stems,Brainstems,Cerebri, Truncus,Cerebrus, Truncus,Truncus Cerebrus
D002387 Cataract Extraction The removal of a cataractous CRYSTALLINE LENS from the eye. Enzymatic Zonulolysis,Phakectomy,Cataract Extractions,Enzymatic Zonulolyses,Extraction, Cataract,Extractions, Cataract,Phakectomies,Zonulolyses, Enzymatic,Zonulolysis, Enzymatic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000779 Anesthetics, Local Drugs that block nerve conduction when applied locally to nerve tissue in appropriate concentrations. They act on any part of the nervous system and on every type of nerve fiber. In contact with a nerve trunk, these anesthetics can cause both sensory and motor paralysis in the innervated area. Their action is completely reversible. (From Gilman AG, et. al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed) Nearly all local anesthetics act by reducing the tendency of voltage-dependent sodium channels to activate. Anesthetics, Conduction-Blocking,Conduction-Blocking Anesthetics,Local Anesthetic,Anesthetics, Topical,Anesthetic, Local,Anesthetics, Conduction Blocking,Conduction Blocking Anesthetics,Local Anesthetics,Topical Anesthetics
D012768 Shivering Involuntary contraction or twitching of the muscles. It is a physiologic method of heat production in man and other mammals. Shiverings

Related Publications

D S Lee, and N J Kwon
November 1988, Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie,
D S Lee, and N J Kwon
March 1988, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery,
D S Lee, and N J Kwon
January 1990, Ugeskrift for laeger,
D S Lee, and N J Kwon
December 1983, Annals of ophthalmology,
D S Lee, and N J Kwon
August 1985, Anesthesiology,
D S Lee, and N J Kwon
December 1984, Anesthesiology,
D S Lee, and N J Kwon
January 1990, British journal of anaesthesia,
D S Lee, and N J Kwon
December 2005, Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie,
D S Lee, and N J Kwon
September 1995, Ophthalmology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!