[Electromyographic characteristics of postanesthetic tremor]

Abstract

Postanesthetic tremor is a frequent complication during recovery from surgery. Its etiopathogenesis is poorly understood and its electromyographic characteristics have scarcely been studies. We report the electromyographic characteristics of three normothermic patients with postanesthetic tremor. Electromyography revealed tremor to be consistent with that recorded for patients with exacerbated physiological tremor. None of the three patients had electromyographic signs typical of hypothermic patients with tremor. We conclude that the electromyographic signs of postanesthetic tremor should be studied further and consider it noteworthy that the recordings we made could be attributable to high levels of circulating catecholamines, leading to exacerbation of physiologic tremor manifested in the form of postanesthetic shivering.