Comparison of perioperative hypothermia with and without active short-term prewarming in paediatric patients

Perioperative hypothermia defined as a core body temperature below 36C is a significant concern in surgical patients. It occurs in 50 to 90 percent of cases even during minor procedures. It is associated with complications including increased blood loss, higher infection risk, prolonged hospital stays, delayed wound healing and adverse cardiovascular effects. Paediatric patients are more vulnerable due to larger surface area to body mass ratio, less insulating fat, immature thermoregulation and increased heat loss. Despite active warming strategies like forced air

warming blankets, infusion heating and increasing operating room temperature, studies report that nearly 65 percent of patients still develop hypothermia within the first hour of surgery. This is due to redistribution of heat after induction of anaesthesia. Prewarming increases peripheral tissue temperature and reduces redistribution. While traditional guidelines recommend 30 minutes, recent studies show even 10 minutes can be effective. However most existing literature is in adults and data in children is lacking. This study aims to investigate whether a 10 minute active prewarming protocol provides additional benefits for paediatric patients undergoing elective surgery with continuous intraoperative warming. The goal is to optimize perioperative temperature management, reduce incidence of perioperative hypothermia and improve recovery in children aged 1 to 12 years.