Postoperative fever at 72 hours is most commonly due to which cause?

Postoperative fever at 72 hours is most commonly due to which cause?

• A. Atelectasis
• B. Urinary tract infection
• C. Deep vein thrombosis
• D. Infection

Answer: (D)

Postoperative fever around day three is most commonly driven by infection. After the initial surgical inflammation subsides, fever at 72 hours is most often due to infectious processes such as wound infection, urinary tract infection from catheter use, or pneumonia. Atelectasis was historically blamed for early fevers but isn’t the leading cause at this time point, and fever from deep vein thrombosis is less common and usually accompanied by leg symptoms. In short, infection best explains fevers occurring around 72 hours after surgery.

Postoperative fever around day three is most commonly driven by infection. After the initial surgical inflammation subsides, fever at 72 hours is most often due to infectious processes such as wound infection, urinary tract infection from catheter use, or pneumonia. Atelectasis was historically blamed for early fevers but isn’t the leading cause at this time point, and fever from deep vein thrombosis is less common and usually accompanied by leg symptoms. In short, infection best explains fevers occurring around 72 hours after surgery.