Shaking from Tumescent Fluid During Liposuction?

                  Shaking
during and after tumescent liposuction, although unusual can occur for a
variety of reasons.  The most
common causes are intravascular absorption of epinephrine and lowered core body
temperatures.

                  In
the vast majority of cases the effect of epinephrine is relatively short.  Shaking caused by epinephrine tends to
resolve quickly.

                  When
shaking during and after tumescent liposuction is prolonged, the most likely
cause is lowered core body temperature. 
Lowered body temperature can occur for a variety of reasons and every
effort should be made to avoid this problem.

                  During
tumescent liposuction large areas of the body’s surface area are obligatorily
exposed to open air.  In addition,
patients are given significant amounts of tumescent fluid in the area being
treated.  Both of these factors can
adversely impact core body temperature.

                  For
these reasons, it’s important to keep the operating room warm and whenever
possible utilize a warming blanket. 
In addition it’s important to use warm tumescent fluid.  When these steps are taken uncontrolled
shaking is usually not an issue.

First, these are not convulsions; they are likely a side effect from the epinephrine.  We like to use 20mg of Valium, 50mg of Hydroxyzine, and this seems to keep people very comfortable.  Try to take the meds 30 minutes prior to the procedure so it will have time to work. 

The shaking you experienced was not a "convulsion", as you listed, but rather a normal physiological reaction of you body trying to keep warm.  The injected fluid makes your body cooler, and the epinephrine in the solution vasoconstricts your skin cappillaries so blood flow is reduced.  This combination can lead to shaking "chills", especially if you are somewhat nervous during the procedure.  Though it is really nothing to worry about (assuming you are properly monitored), tell your surgeon that is was alarming to you and he/she will give you something to sedate you more at your next procedure.

You had a normal reaction to the epinephrine - just as if your own body had produced a larger amount of it in a stressful situation. Next time, keeing your body warm may help, as may using a lower dose of the epinephrine (if possible and OK with your surgeon).

On the rare occasion that someone "shakes" we have always found that a warm blanket helps offset the cold from the room and the fluids. There is a variance of opinion as to whether the fluid should be warmed, as some surgeons feel that cool helps reduce swelling and bruising.