Postoperative fever is a common condition challenging doctors to find the right diagnosis, because it can be a hallmark of serious underlying conditions. One third of patients develop fever after surgery depending on type of surgery but only a small percentage turn out to be due to infection. Causes The most common causes of postoperative fever have been summarized for generations of medical students by a mnemonic beginning with the letter W. Classically, the list has consisted of five W's – Wind, Water, Wound, Walking, and Wonder Drugs, but two other causes should also be considered – Wing/Waterway and (W)abscess (courtesy of Elmer Fudd). There is a characteristic time period after surgery when many of these complications tend to develop (postoperative days or POD).
Postoperative fever refers to an elevated body temperature (≥ 38.5°C) occurring after a recent surgical procedure. As many as one-third of patients develop fever after surgery , depending on the type of procedure. Diagnosing the cause of postoperative fever can sometimes be challenging; while fever in this context may be benign, self-limited, or unrelated to the surgical procedure, it can also be indicative of a surgical complication, such as infection. Causes The most common causes of postoperative fever are often summarized for medical students by a mnemonic beginning with the letter W. The classic list consists of five W's – Wind, Water, Wound, Walking, and Wonder Drugs, but two other causes should also be considered – Wing/Waterway and (W)abscess (courtesy of Elmer Fudd). There is a characteristic timeframe after surgery when many of these complications tend to develop (postoperative days or POD).
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