How can you avoid getting perioperative hypothermia, and what will happen if you get cold?

Information for the public

The advice from NICE about how to prevent perioperative hypothermia covers the care and treatment you should receive before, during and after your operation.

In general, your healthcare team should try to ensure that you stay comfortably warm all the time. They should do several things to keep you warm, starting before your operation and continuing until you are comfortably warm back on the ward. They should monitor your temperature, and use a special warming blanket or mattress to help stop you getting too cold.

You should be encouraged to tell staff if you feel cold at any time during your stay in hospital. If you have difficulties communicating, staff should check to make sure that you are comfortably warm.