Teaching Aids-Postoperative fever

Postoperative fever is one of the most common problems seen in the postoperative ward. Most cases of fever immediately following surgery are self-limiting. The appearance of postoperative fever is not limited to specific types of surgery. Fever can occur immediately after surgery and seen to be related directly to the operation or may occur sometime after the surgery as a result of an infection at the surgical site or infections that involve organs distant from the surgery. Therefore, during evaluating postoperative fever, it is important to recognize when a wait - and - see approach is appropriate, when further work-up is needed and when immediate action is indicated.