Risk factors for febrile morbidity after abdominal hysterectomy in a university hospital in Thailand

Aim: To identify the risk factors for febrile morbidity after hysterectomy. Methods: This was a historical cohort study of 1,980 women who had undergone hysterectomy between October 1998 and December 2005. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for febrile morbidity. Results: Among the cohort, 1,463 women were nonfebrile and 517 febrile-an incidence of febrile morbidity of 26.1%. The incidence of febrile morbidity was higher in patients with lower preoperative hematocrit, more extensive surgery, longer operative time, greater blood loss and malignant disease. The median intraoperative blood loss was 500 ml in the febrile group and 400 ml in the non-febrile group (p < 0.0005). Median operative time was 150 min in the febrile group and 135 min in the non-febrile group (p < 0.0005). Two variables were identified as independent risk factors for febrile morbidity: intraoperative blood loss of 6 750 ml (compared with < 250 ml OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.08-2.13; p = 0.036) and a diagnosis of malignant disease (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.45-2.13; p < 0.0005). Conclusions: Independent risk factors for febrile morbidity were an intraoperative blood loss of 6 750 ml and malignant disease. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.