Intravenous or caudal clonidine does not influence core temperature in children

Clonidine is known to impair cold defence mechanisms by decreasing thermore gulatory thresholds. Thus, clonidine might contribute to perioperative hypo thermia during minor paediatric surgery. This study was designed to investi gate the influence of intravenous or epidural clonidine on perioperative co re temperature in children. A total of 23 children undergoing minor inguina l or genital surgery under combined general and caudal anaesthesia were ran domly assigned to 3 groups: caudal clonidine (1-3 mu g kg(-1)), intravenous clonidine (3 mu g kg(-1)) and a control group without clonidine. Neither c audal nor intravenous application of clonidine significantly affected core temperature. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.