Abstract:Objectives To investigate the effect of perioperative thermal insulation on maternal hypothermia during caesarean section. Methods A total of 120 patients receiving cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups (n = 60). Patients in group S were kept warm by a warm coat for 30 minutes (40 degree) before anesthesia. Patients in group C (control group) did not receive any thermal protection before anesthesia. Body temperature at the 30th minute before anesthesia was measured as baseline temperature, and then was recorded every 15 minutes until the end of surgery. Blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure, heart rate and tympanic membrane temperature of the two groups were recorded. Results The baseline temperature was (36.6 ± 0.3)℃ and (36.5 ± 0.3)℃ for group S and group C, respectively. There was no obvious difference in baseline temperature between the two groups. Body temperature was dropped down at the end of anesthesia in both two group, with (36.1 ± 0.2)℃ in group S and (35.4 ± 0.4)℃ in group C. Patients in group C experienced more dramatic decrease of body temperature compared with group S (P < 0.05). No significant difference in hemodynamics between the two groups was founded. Conclusion Warming up for 30 minutes before anesthesia can prevent the dropdown of body temperature for women undergoing cesarean section.