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Fever: Fact and fiction

James E Barone1

  • 1Department of Surgery, Manchester Memorial Hospital, Manchester, Connecticut 06040, USA. jebaronemd@gmail.com

The Journal of Trauma
|August 12, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Fever in surgical patients is often misunderstood. This review clarifies common misconceptions about normal temperature, postoperative fever management, and the benefits versus risks of fever suppression.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Science
  • Surgical Patient Care
  • Clinical Practice

Background:

  • Postoperative fever is a common clinical challenge.
  • Numerous misconceptions surround the significance and management of fever in surgical patients.
  • These misconceptions can lead to suboptimal patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address and debunk nine prevalent misconceptions regarding fever in surgical patients.
  • To provide evidence-based clarification on normal body temperature, fever investigation, and treatment rationale.
  • To discuss the beneficial and adverse effects of fever and its suppression.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and evidence synthesis.
  • Analysis of existing research on postoperative fever.
  • Expert consensus and critical appraisal of common beliefs.

Main Results:

  • Identified and analyzed nine common misconceptions about surgical fever.
  • Clarified the concept of normal body temperature in the context of surgery.
  • Evaluated the rationale for investigating and treating postoperative fever.
  • Discussed the potential benefits of fever and the risks of its suppression.

Conclusions:

  • Challenging misconceptions about fever management in surgical patients is crucial.
  • Evidence-based understanding supports appropriate clinical decision-making regarding fever.
  • Optimizing fever management can improve surgical patient outcomes.

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