Post-Operative Fever

Question 1

A patient returns from theatre and immediately is noted to have fever. What might be the cause?

Answer 1

• Transfusion reaction
• Atelectasis
• Prior infection
• Trauma
• Thrombophlebitis
• Malignant hyperthermia

Question 2

A patient returns from theatre and on day 2-5 is noted to have a fever. What might be the cause?

Answer 2

• Pneumonia
• UTI
• Early wound infection
• Early abscess
• Necrotising fasciitis

Question 3

A patient returns from theatre, and after day 5 is noted to have a fever. What might be the cause?

Answer 3

• Wound infections
• DVT/PE (low grade associated with thrombophlebitis)
• Drug reactions
• Nosocomial infections
• Acalculus cholecystitis/gout/parotitis

Question 4

Months post-op, a patient develops a fever. What might be the cause?

Answer 4

Almost always operation-related

• Anastomotic leak
• Faecolith causing abscess e.g. post appendicitis
• Prosthesis infection
• Sub-acute bacterial endocarditis