PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

If a post-operative fever occurs between days 3-5, what is the most likely cause?

1. Drug fever

2. Wound infection

3. Urinary tract infection

4. Undiagnosed intra-abdominal abscess

The correct answer is: Urinary tract infection

In the context of post-operative fever occurring between days 3 and 5, the most common cause to consider is a urinary tract infection (UTI). This timeframe is critical as it falls within the period when patients are often at increased risk for various complications. During the early days post-surgery, especially around day 3-5, urinary catheters are frequently used, which can lead to a higher risk of UTIs. The presence of a catheter can facilitate the introduction of bacteria into the urinary tract, leading to infection, which typically presents with fever as one of the symptoms. Understanding the typical postoperative timeline for complications is key: - Post-operative fever can occur for a variety of reasons, but certain causes are more common based on the timing. - Days 1-2 after surgery are often associated with surgical stress responses, atelectasis, or pneumonia. - The period from day 3-5 often coincides with the onset of infections due to interventions like catheterization or other procedures performed during the hospitalization. While drug fever, wound infections, and undiagnosed intra-abdominal abscesses can occur, they are more likely associated with different time frames or require additional clinical context and findings. For instance, a wound