Fever Flashcards
Fever
Term used to describe an increase in body temp above the normal (37C).
Monitoring of body temp is commonly used to determine the presence of infection.
Fever of known origin
Described as a body temp above 38.3 on several occasions for over three weeks without an apparent cause despite extensive investigation in pts without neutropenia or immunosuppression.
Post operative fever
Most often noninfectious
Non infectious causes:
* Atelectasis
* Increased basal metabolic rate (d/t stress on the body)
* Dehydration
* Drug reactions
Increasing lung inflation by turning, coughing, deep breathing and IS use helps to increase lung expansion–decreased lung expansion is a major cause of postop fever (atelectasis)
Infectious causes of post op fever
- Usually accompanied by subjective complaints and a WBC elevation with left shift (bandemia– increase immature WBC)
- A WBC elevation over 30,000 is NOT usually due to infection rather heme or onc related like leukemia.
- Surgical incisions
- IV sites
- Point of entry for any catheter
- Urinary tract
- Lungs
- Sinusitis (NG tubes)
- Abscess
Initial treatment of post op fever
In the absence of any indication of an infection, the first response should include hydration and measures to expand lung inflation.
Treatment of infectious post op fever
- Supportive fluid therapy and tylenol
- Treat the apparent underlying source
- Gram stain and culture and sensitivity all invasive lines or catheters as indicated.