[Severe hypothermia associated with cesarean section under spinal anesthesia]

Temperature monitoring and prevention of hypothermia are rarely used during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section because hypothermia risk is considered very low. However, in same conditions, we observed two cases of severe hypothermia. We report these two cases and discuss the effects of spinal anaesthesia on thermoregulatory system. Hypothermia seems explained by the effects of perimedullar anaesthesia that decrease the shivering and the vasoconstriction thresholds. These effects are potentiated by morphinomimetic adjunction. At last, we recall prophylactics measures.