Postoperative Fever

Excerpt

Postoperative fever is defined as a temperature higher than 38 C (or greater than 100.4 F) on two consecutive postoperative days or higher than 39 C (or greater than 102.2 F) on any postoperative day. Knowledge of differential diagnosis, as well as a systematic approach, proves useful in narrowing down the differential diagnosis and instituting proper management.

Fever, as a manifestation of sepsis, should be promptly identified and managed appropriately to lower mortality rates in such cases.