Forced-air warming and continuous core temperature monitoring with zero-heat-flux thermometry during cesarean section: a retrospective observational cohort study.

Background: Over 30% of parturients undergoing spinal anesthesia for cesarean section become intraoperatively hypothermic. This study assessed the magnitude of hypothermic insult in parturients and newborns using continuous, high-resolution thermometry and evaluated the efficiency of intraoperative forced-air warming for prevention of hypothermia.

Methods: One hundred and eleven parturients admitted for elective or emergency cesarean section under spinal anesthesia with newborn bonding over a 5-month period were included in this retrospective observational cohort study.