Fever after surgery: when to call

The body can react to tissue injury, medicines or reduced movement after an operation. Fever becomes more concerning when it comes with increasing wound pain, spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus or a wound that opens. Cough, breathlessness, chest pain, calf swelling, painful urination or worsening abdominal pain can point to problems away from the incision. The operation type, timing and discharge instructions affect the right response.

Measure and record your temperature, follow wound-care instructions and take prescribed medicines as directed. Drink fluids if permitted, eat as tolerated and walk or perform breathing exercises only as your surgical team advised. Keep the incision clean and avoid applying unapproved creams. Call the surgical team or the listed after-hours service when fever persists, rises, or comes with a new symptom; they may need to examine the wound.

Seek emergency care for severe breathlessness, chest pain, fainting, confusion, uncontrolled bleeding or sudden one-sided weakness. Get urgent review for a hot, rapidly reddening wound, pus, severe or escalating pain, repeated vomiting, inability to drink, very little urine, or a swollen painful calf. Do not wait for a routine appointment if you feel suddenly or significantly worse after the operation.

Ask which temperature or wound change should prompt a call, how to clean the incision, whether activity should change, and whether your current medicines can affect temperature or wound healing.