Post-operative fever in open compared with robotic hysterectomies for endometrial cancer

摘要

Objective: There are numerous explanations behind the presence of post-operative fever that patients may experience. The aim of this study was to determine if temperatures >= 38.0 degrees C were more common in patients undergoing open or robotic surgery for endometrial cancer. Materials and Methods: 150 women were retrospectively analyzed; half underwent robotic hysterectomy and the other half underwent an open approach. A febrile episode was a single temperature of >= 38.3 degrees C or a sustained temperature of >= 38.0 degrees C for more than one hour. Temperatures were recorded and compared for 48 hours postoperatively. Results: Febrile episodes of 38.0-38.3 degrees C were seen in 33.3% of patients undergoing an open approach and 12% of patients undergoing robotic surgery (p = 0.003) within two days of surgery. Temperatures of >= 38.3 degrees C were only seen in three patients in the open arm and one in the robotic arm (4% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.3). Those few who experienced temperatures >= 38.3 degrees C were all found to have infections. Conclusions: There is a significantly decreased incidence of a post-operative fever in a patient who undergoes a robotic hysterectomy instead of an open abdominal hysterectomy for the treatment of endometrial cancer.