Intraoperative hypothermia has become a common occurrence. Postoperative rewarming often is accompanied by shivering and results in increased metabolic and circulatory demands. We examined the metabolic, hemodynamic, and biochemical variables in 2 groups of hypothermic (greater than 35.8 degrees C) patients requiring mechanical ventilation after a major operation. One was observed during routine medical management whereas the other group received 40 mg of metocurine iodide and then observed during routine medical management. All patients were allowed to rewarm passively. O2 consumption (VO2, ml/min, STPD), CO2 production (VCO2, ml/min, STPD) and respiratory quotient (RQ) measurements were made every 15 min using a Beckman Metabolic Measurement Cart. Esophageal temperature, arterial blood pressure, heart rate (HR), rate pressure product, CVP, arterial blood gases, serum lactate concentration, and duration of shivering also were recorded. Suppression of the shivering by metocurine increased rewarming time significantly and decreased VCO2, VO2, HR, rate pressure product, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and the O2 cost of rewarming. Thus, the elimination of shivering during postoperative rewarming is associated with a decrease in caloric, metabolic demands and myocardial work (as assessed by the rate pressure product) while rewarming time is prolonged. In the postoperative, hypothermic, critically ill patient, suppression of the shivering response in selected patients may be indicated.