What measures are used to prevent hypothermia in the perioperative patient?

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Maintaining normothermia during the perioperative period relies on actively supplying heat and reducing the ways the body loses it. Using active warming with forced-air blankets directly adds heat to the patient and counters the anesthesia-related drop in core temperature. Warming IV fluids helps keep the circulating temperature from dropping as fluids are infused, which is a common source of heat loss. Keeping the operating room warmer reduces radiant and convective heat loss from the patient to the surrounding environment. Minimizing exposure time limits evaporation and convective heat loss from exposed skin.

Lowering the OR temperature would increase heat loss and raise the risk of hypothermia, so it’s not protective. Relying only on warm blankets misses a major avenue of heat loss through circulating fluids and overall conduction, making it insufficient. Keeping the patient exposed to air promotes heat loss rather than preventing it, so it’s not appropriate for preventing hypothermia.