Intraoperative tramadol reduces shivering but not pain after remifentanil–isoflurane general anaesthesia. A placebo-controlled, double-blind trial

Background and objective Postoperative shivering and pain are frequent problems in patients recovering from anaesthesia with particularly high incidences being observed after remifentanil–isoflurane-based general anaesthesia. The opioid tramadol is generally effective in preventing shivering and treating pain, but its effects are not characterized after remifentanil-based general anaesthesia. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study evaluated the effects of intraoperative intravenous tramadol on postoperative shivering and pain after remifentanil-based general anaesthesia. Methods After Ethics Committee approval, 60 patients scheduled for lumbar disc surgery were included. Su…