Comparison of the Effects of Paracetamol, Metamizole and External Cooling on the Fever Reduction in Intensive Care Unit Patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58600/eurjther3017Keywords:
Fever, Intensive Care Unit, Paracetamol, metamizole, cold pack applicationAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to compare the antipyretic effects of paracetamol, metamizole, and cold pack application in the treatment of fever in the intensive care unit and to evaluate their effects and side effects on hemodynamics.
Methods: After approval fromthe ethical committee, 500 patients with body temperature >38.3°C were examined in the Anesthesiology and Reanimation Intensive Care Unit of Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine and retrospectively evaluated. Paracetamol was applied to 167 of the patients, metamizole was applied to 167, and 166 patients had application of a cold pack. Body temperature, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and diuresis were evaluated at baseline and 30, 60, and 120 min after the infusion of the drug.
Results: A significant decrease in fever was observed in all three groups (p = 0.001). Comparison of these groups revealed that the patients receiving metamizole had a greater temperature decrease than those in the paracetamol and cold pack application groups (p = 0.001). The mean arterial pressure drop after 120 min was 3.99 ± 8.95 mmHg with paracetamol, 4.54 ± 8.60 mmHg with metamizole, and 2.79 ± 10.45 mmHg with the application of a cold pack (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Metamizole was associated with greater temperature reduction compared to other methods. All three methods reduced the mean arterial pressure. Therefore, the benefits and risks of antipyretic therapy should be considered when planning treatment for critically ill patients.
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