Perioperative hypothermia may be due to direct anesthetic inhibition of thermoregulation, decreased metabolism and loss of heat to the cold environment of operating rooms, even with active warming. When it is inadvertent, it may be associated to several complications, but when adequately indicated, it may protect vital organs such as central nervous system and heart. Normothermia decreases undesirable hypothermia effects, being warming the most effective preventive method. Active or passive warming approaches should be adopted and muscle shivering should be adequately treated to prevent discomfort and increased metabolic demand.