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

1. Common postoperative discomforts

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