Abstract: A self-contained surgical warming device 10 includes a flexible outer bag having a heat generating compound 40 which becomes activated when exposed to air. In use, a surgical assistant or nurse wraps a surgical instrument such as an endoscope 18 in the warming device. The warming device then transfers enough heat to the endoscope to raise the temperature of the endoscope to approximately that of body temperature, thereby preventing the condensation of water vapor on a camera lens in an endoscopic instrument. The surgical instrument warming device may be used on endoscopes or any other type of surgical instrument that requires warming to approximately body temperature prior to contact with human tissue.