Fever in the postoperative patient

Mayur Narayan; Sandra P Medinilla

doi:10.1016/j.emc.2013.07.011

Fever in the postoperative patient

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2013 Nov;31(4):1045-58. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2013.07.011.

Authors

Mayur Narayan¹, Sandra P Medinilla

Affiliation

¹ Department of Surgery, Center for Injury Prevention & Policy, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Program in Trauma, Center for Injury Prevention & Policy, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: mnarayan@umm.edu.

PMID: 24176478
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2013.07.011

Abstract

Postprocedure fevers vary in the timing of their occurrence, duration, and severity. Such fevers do not all have an infectious cause, but they all require thorough investigation to rule out life-threatening conditions. This article summarizes the principles of diagnosis and management of postprocedure fevers for the emergency care provider.

Keywords: Atelectasis; Clostridium difficile; Fever; Inflammation; Intra-abdominal abscess; Necrotizing soft-tissue infection; Pneumonia; Urinary tract infection.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Diagnosis, Differential
Fever / diagnosis
Fever / etiology*
Humans
Postoperative Complications / diagnosis
Postoperative Complications / etiology*
Risk Factors