A 72-year-old man undergoes resection of an abdominal aneurysm. He arrives in the ICU with a core temperature of 33degC (91.4degF) and shivering. Which of the following is a physiologic consequence of the shivering?
Shivering is the physiologic effo of the body to generate heat to maintain the core temperature. In healthy persons, shivering increases the metabolic rate by 3 to 5 times and results in increased O2 consumption and CO2 production. In critically ill patients, these metabolic consequences are almost always counterproductive and should be prevented with other means employed to correct systemic hypothermia. In the presence of vigorous shivering, O2 debt in the muscles and lactic acidemia develop.
Rising mixed venous O2 saturation
Increased production of CO2
Decreased consumption of O2
Rising base excess
Miscellaneous