Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (a drop in core temperature to below 36 °C) occurs because of interference with normal temperature regulation by anaesthetic drugs, skin exposure for prolonged periods and the introduction of large volumes of intravenous and irrigation fluids. If the temperature of these fluids is below core body temperature, they can cause significant heat loss. Warming irrigation fluids might prevent some of this heat loss and subsequent hypothermia and that is the role of warming irrigation fluid systems.
