The significance of fever following cholecystectomy.
BACKGROUND
Family physicians are often called upon to evaluate a patient with fever that occurs following a surgical procedure. While fever is a common postoperative event, it can have various prognostic implications.


METHODS
The incidence and significance of postoperative fever was studied in a relatively healthy group of patients who had undergone cholecystectomy. Risk factors for infection as well as the incidence of infection were recorded.


RESULTS
The overall rate of infection was 5.7%. In comparing the epidemiologic, operative, and laboratory data of patients with fever with those without fever, the only statistical difference noted was a greater incidence of fever in men (P less than .01). As the sole diagnostic criterion for determining the presence of infection, fever was of little value. Other clinical findings proved to be more discriminating markers for infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative fever in a cholecystectomy patient by itself is not suggestive of infection. Clinical findings remain the primary diagnostic guide to distinguishing those patients who require further evaluation.
Giangobbe
M J
MJ
Department of Surgery, Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson 85724.
Rappaport
W D
WD
Stein
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology