World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery
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World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg · Jul 2011
Association between postoperative Fever and atelectasis in pediatric patients.
Postoperative fever is common after cardiac surgery. In the absence of documented infection, atelectasis is often suggested as a cause of postoperative fever. However, this link is not well supported by pathophysiologic mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an association exists between atelectasis and postoperative fever in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. ⋯ Postoperative fever and atelectasis are both common after pediatric cardiac surgery. In our study, there was no significant association between postoperative fever and atelectasis. In children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, fever in the postoperative period should not be attributed to atelectasis.