Fever in trauma patients: evaluation of risk factors, including traumatic brain injury

American Journal of Critical Care : an Official Publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Victoria BengualidJudith Berger

Abstract

The role of fever in trauma patients remains unclear. Fever occurs as a response to release of cytokines and prostaglandins by white blood cells. Many factors, including trauma, can trigger release of these factors. To determine whether (1) fever in the first 48 hours is related to a favorable outcome in trauma patients and (2) fever is more common in patients with head trauma. Retrospective study of trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit for at least 2 days. Data were analyzed by using multivariate analysis. Of 162 patients studied, 40% had fever during the first 48 hours. Febrile patients had higher mortality rates than did afebrile patients. When adjusted for severity of injuries, fever did not correlate with mortality. Neither the incidence of fever in the first 48 hours after admission to the intensive care unit nor the number of days febrile in the unit differed between patients with and patients without head trauma (traumatic brain injury). About 70% of febrile patients did not have a source found for their fever. Febrile patients without an identified source of infection had lower peak white blood cell counts, lower maximum body temperature, and higher minimum platelet counts than did febrile patients who h...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Sep 16, 2020·European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery : Official Publication of the European Trauma Society·Asami OkadaRyoji Iiduka
Jun 24, 2017·The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery·Holly E HinsonMartin A Schreiber
Feb 18, 2021·Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA·Hsuan-Hsiao MaWei-Ming Chen
Jun 20, 2021·Nursing in Critical Care·Jui-Hsia HuangJun-Yu Fan

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