Related Experiment Videos
Fever and infection after cardiac operation
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|April 1, 1982
Summary
Post-heart surgery fever, defined as a temperature of 38°C or higher, occurring after the third day may indicate infection. This finding suggests a need for thorough investigation of deep-seated infections in patients experiencing prolonged fever.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Fever is a common post-operative complication.
- Identifying the cause of fever is crucial for patient management.
- Open-heart surgery patients are susceptible to various infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the occurrence of fever after open-heart surgery.
- To determine the correlation between late-onset fever and specific infections.
- To establish fever as a potential indicator for deep-seated infections.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fever occurrence in 123 patients post open-heart operation.
- Recording daily maximal temperature (>= 38°C).
- Statistical comparison of fever incidence based on infection status (bacteremia, wound infection, pneumonia).
Main Results:
- A statistically significant difference in fever incidence was observed after the third postoperative day.
- Patients with bacteremia, wound infection, or pneumonia showed a higher incidence of late fever.
- Fever developing after the third postoperative day is a key indicator.
Conclusions:
- Fever developing after the third postoperative day warrants a thorough search for deep-seated infections.
- Early identification and treatment of post-operative infections are critical.
- Monitoring fever patterns can aid in diagnosing complications after open-heart surgery.