Background　Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia is a common complication in patients with surgery，as a recommended preventive measure for inadvertent perioperative hypothermia abroad, prewarming is effective but its important role has not attracted the attention of researchers in our country.　Objective　The objective of this review is to summarize the effect of prewarming in prevention and treatment of hypothermia and its research progress, give a reference to perioperative body temperature protection.　Content　This review summarize the theoretical basis and its history of origin, discuss its effect in the current clinical studies and research progress, including equipment, temperature setting and holding time.　Trend　Prewarming should be more applied in clinical practice, and it need more further clinical research to make a standardized and optimised strategy of prewarming.