Post-Operative Management and Nursing Care Using The Nursing Process Part 2

1.4. Post-operative Pyrexia

Post-operative Pyrexia

Post-operative pyrexia is common. Often inflammatory mediators released as the response to surgery will cause low-grade pyrexia within 24 hours of an operation and of course, any pre-existing pyrexia can leave some residual fever post-operatively. Other common causes of pyrexia can be remembered as the “seven Cs” below. Each of these causes should be sought and treated appropriately:

• Cut (Wound Infection)
• Collection (Pelvic or Subphrenic Abscess)
• Chest (Infection or Pulmonary Embolism)
• Cannula (Infection)
• Central venous catheter (Infection)
• Catheter (Urinary Tract Infection)
• Calves (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Infections