Shivering during a cesarean section can be quite uncomfortable for the patient as well as make it difficult for the anesthesiologist to obtain vital signs. The researchers will investigate whether or not applying pressure to the P6 acupressure point during a cesarean section can treat shivering. The hypothesis is that shivering will be alleviated with acupressure.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether applying pressure to the left and right P6 acupoints can treat shivering in a patient undergoing a cesarean section. The hypothesis is that bilateral stimulation of P6 with pressure can stop or alleviate shivering. The primary endpoint is resolution of shivering within 15 minutes of applying bilateral pressure to P6 acupoints during a cesarean section. The secondary endpoints include: 1. Time to resolution of shivering 2. Degree of patient-reported improvement in shivering 3. Degree of practitioner-reported improvement in shivering 4. Assessment of skin irritation and/or pain at the site of acupressure vs control Patient information will be stored in a locked cabinet on labor and delivery, and that cabinet will be located in a T3-locked office. The link between subject ID and patient ID will be stored in a different office on labor and delivery, also under a T3 lock. Patients who are laboring with an epidural catheter and subsequently require a cesarean section will be selected. This patient population has a MUCH higher rate of shivering during the cesarean section as compared to patients who undergo elective scheduled cesarean sections under spinal anesthesia. By selecting this group, the investigators are not only increasing chances of identifying shivering but also decreasing variability between patient characteristics by limiting it to one type (only epidural and not spinal) and limiting the number of screen failures.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
Patients will wear bracelets on both hands
Patients will wear bracelets on both hands.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York, United States
Incidence of resolution of shivering at 15 minutes
Incidence of resolution of shivering within 15 minutes of applying bilateral pressure to P6 acupoints during a cesarean section.
Time frame: up to 15 minutes
Time to resolution of shivering
Time to resolution of shivering
Time frame: up to 15 minutes
Degree of resolution of shivering
Degree of patient-reported improvement in shivering as measured by Crossley \& Mahajan shivering scale: 0 = no shivering;1 = no visible muscle activity but piloerection, peripheral vasoconstriction, or both are present (other causes excluded); 2 = muscular activity in only one muscle group; 3 = moderate muscular activity in more than one muscle group but no generalized shaking; 4 = violent muscular activity that involves the whole body.
Time frame: up to 15 minutes
Degree of practitioner-reported improvement in shivering
Degree of practitioner-reported improvement in shivering as measured by Crossley \& Mahajan shivering scale: 0 = no shivering;1 = no visible muscle activity but piloerection, peripheral vasoconstriction, or both are present (other causes excluded); 2 = muscular activity in only one muscle group; 3 = moderate muscular activity in more than one muscle group but no generalized shaking; 4 = violent muscular activity that involves the whole body.
Time frame: up to 15 minutes
Number of participants with skin irritation
Number of participants with skin irritation at the site of acupressure obtained by patient self-reporting
Time frame: up to 15 minutes
Number of participants with pain
Number of participants with pain at the site of acupressure obtained by patient self-reporting
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Time frame: up to 15 minutes