• inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH)
• risk factors of hypothermia
• thermoregulation
• unintentional perioperative hypothermia (UPH)

This thesis aims to provide an overview encompassing the physiology and pathophysiology of thermoregulation, the effects, and the prevention of unintentional perioperative hypothermia (UPH) through a literature review. UPH is a drop in body temperature below 36°C that can occur "unintentionally" during a surgical procedure. In the past, UPH was considered a normal and not particularly harmful consequence of surgery; shivering and discomfort were thought to be the only negative effects. It was only about forty years ago that the first studies on UPH were published. UPH leads to an increase in negative complications in 50-70% of operated patients, ranging from shivering and reduced comfort to increased risk of surgical site infection, prolonged recovery times, and even death in the most severe cases. This also results in higher healthcare costs. Therefore, it is essential to adopt a proactive approach to maintaining normal body temperature during the perioperative phases by assessing risk factors that favour the onset of hypothermia during the preoperative anesthesia visit. The good clinical practices published by SIAARTI are a reference point for standardizing procedures to maintain normothermia. Unfortunately, these are not always nor everywhere applied. It is thus necessary to continue raising awareness about the risks of UPH and the importance of implementing procedures to maintain normothermia.