Objective To investigate the effect of different anesthesia methods on perioperative body temperature. Methods Eighty patients undergoing esophagus cancer resection were randomized into two groups of combined general and epidural anesthesia(GEA, group A,42 cases) and general anesthesia(GA, group B, 38 cases). Epipharynx and peripheral temperatures were recorded at the same time every 30 minutes for 3 hours after induction. Epipharynx temperature was recorded than after when circulating water mattresses and fluid warming were used to rewarming. The incidence of postoperative shivering was recorded. Results The peripheral temperature was gradually decreased after induction in both groups. The core temperature was decreased quickly within the first 1 hour in both groups, which was reduced slowly within the next two hours with a greater magnitude of temperature reduction in group A than that in group B(P<0.05). The incidence of shivering was higher in group A than that in group B during warming up. Conclusion The patients undergoing long procedures such as esophagus cancer recection under GEA is at more risk for hypothermia than those under GA.