The oesophageal body temperature of 130 patients was measured pre- and intraoperatively. 92% (n = 116) of the operations (implantation or replacement of hip prostheses) were performed in an operating room having a laminar air flow system with horizontal air flow. 9% (n = 14) of the operations (laparotomies) were performed in a room of identical design without an air circulation system. Three different forms of anesthesia were investigated with regard to their influence on interior body temperature: 1) general anesthesia with a volatile anesthetic (INH); 2) peridural anesthesia with additional general anesthesia (KPDA+ITN); and 3) neuroleptic anesthesia (NLA). A drop in temperature during the operation was found in all patients. In the conventional operating room the mean drop was 0.3 degrees C/h. In the operating room with laminar air flow the INH-patients sustained the greatest decrease in temperature; the mean value in the first hour was 1.1 degrees C/h, and up to 4.6 degrees C/3 h toward the end of the operation. There was a comparable drop in temperature in the first hour in patients anesthetized with KPDA+ITN, but the rate slowed down toward the end of the investigation (2.2 degrees C/3 h). NLA caused a characteristic temperature behavior, with an initial fall in temperature, plateau phase, and subsequent rise (total: -1.0 degrees C/3 h) Temperature regulation was influenced least by NLA in the operating room with laminar air flow; thus, in this context, NLA proved to be a favourable form of anesthesia.