Article Sections

Introduction

A postoperative fever is defined as a temperature ≥38 °C (100.4°F) following a surgical procedure.  Postoperative fevers are common occurrences and arise from many different causes.  However, the etiologies generally follow a predictable timeline after surgery ( Figure 1), which allows for targeted diagnostic testing.  The causes of postoperative fever can be classified with the "5 Ws" mnemonic – wind, wound, water, walk, and wonder drugs ( Table 1).

Wind

Wind refers to pulmonary causes of fever, which generally occur between 0 and 48 hours postoperatively.  Causes include:

Atelectasis is the reversible collapse of lung tissue with poor expansion of alveoli leading to intrapulmonary shunting (ie, perfusion without ventilation).  Atelectasis may cause low-grade fever, but it is not an independent cause of fever; therefore, patients should undergo additional evaluation for other potential causes.

Continue Learning with UWorld

Get the full Postoperative Fever article plus rich visuals, real-world cases, and in-depth insights from medical experts, all available through the UWorld Medical Library.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 4

Images

Image 1
Image 1

Tables

Table 1