Postoperative fever after major abdominal surgery.
The investigation is a report of postoperative fever in 608 patients, who had been subjected to major abdominal surgery. There were 259 patients (259/608: 43%) who developed fever, defined as a temperature higher than or equal to 38 degrees C, on at least two consecutive measurements. A focus as an explanation of the fever could be demonstrated in 93 patients (93/259: 36%). The most frequent extraabdominal fever foci were in order of magnitude: pulmonary infection, wound infection and urinary infection. In those patients where a focus was present the maximum temperature as well as the duration of fever was longer than in patients without a focus. The time from operation to onset of fever did not differ in the two groups.
Jørgensen
F S
FS
Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sørensen
C G
CG
Kjaergaard
J
J
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D005490:Focal Infection / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology