What Is Postoperative Fever?

post-operative fever is defined as a temperature greater than 38 degree Celsius or not 104.4 F degree Celsius and is an elevation of the patient's normal temperature.

postoperative fever is common  in the first few days following major  surgery secondary to physiologic  responses from surgery.

Surgery is tough on the body, and it’s not unusual to have a fever during the first 48 hours after surgery. Any fever that develops in the hours or days after a surgical procedure is considered a postoperative fever.

What is Pathophysiology of postoperative fever?

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Tissue trauma from surgical procedures incites a complex inflammatory response where the body releases cytokines and acute phase reactants.

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Interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma act on the preoptic area of the hypothalamus which releases fever-inducing prostaglandins.

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There are many factors that influence "cytokine" releases, including the magnitude of trauma, genetics, and bacterial endotoxins and exotoxins that may be present in the blood during surgery