POSTOPERATIVE FEVER

Course overview

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. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CAUSES OF POSTOPERATIVE FEVER AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.