Maintenance of Perioperative Normothermia during Obstetric Surgery

Abstract

In recent years prevention of perioperative hypothermia has become routine practice. However, we do not seem to follow the same practice in our obstetric surgical patients. This paper examines the evidence regarding the impact of perioperative hypothermia in this patient group and reviews the various warming methods available, the current guidelines and methods to monitor temperature. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) defines hypothermia as a core temperature of under 36°C.