General Surgical Concepts

Question 1

What is the most common cause of fever on postoperative days 1 to 2?

Answer 1

atelectasis

Question 2

What is a “complete” fever workup?

Answer 2

Physical exam (look at wound, etc.),
CXR, urinalysis, blood cultures, CBC

Question 3

What causes fever before

24 postoperative hours?

Answer 3

Atelectasis
β-hemolytic streptococcal or clostridial wound infections
Anastomotic leak

Question 4

What causes fever from

postoperative days 3 to 5?

Answer 4

UTI
Pneumonia
IV site infection
Wound infection

Question 5

What is an anesthetic cause

of fever INTRAoperatively?

Answer 5

Malignant hyperthermia—treat with dantrolene

Question 6

What causes fever from

postoperative days 5 to 10?

Answer 6

Wound infection, abscess, infected hematoma
Pneumonia
C. difficile colitis
Anastomotic leak
DVT
Drugs
PE
Parotitis

Question 7

What causes WOUND
INFECTION on postoperative
days 1 to 2?

Answer 7

Streptococcus

Clostridia

Question 8

What can cause fever at any

time?

Answer 8

1. IV site infection
2. Central line infection
3. Medications

Question 9

Atelectasis as a cause of post-op fever occurs when?

Answer 9

Post-op days 1-2

Question 10

What medications provide
protection from postoperative
GI bleeding?

Answer 10

H2 blockers, PPI

Question 11

What measures provide
protection from postoperative
atelectasis/pneumonia?

Answer 11

Incentive spirometry
Coughing
Smoking cessation
Ambulation

Question 12

Why doesn’t lidocaine work

in an abscess?

Answer 12

Lidocaine does not work in an acidic environment