[Factor analysis fever in the early postoperative period following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in adults. Correlation with bacteriological data. Statistical study of 518 case histories by computer].
The results of a continuous series of 518 adults undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, operated on by the same surgeon, comprising valvular replacement and aorto-coronary bypass surgery with a peroperative protocol of asepsis and a short prophylactic course of Penicillin and Streptomycin, a preoperative and postoperative bacteriological study, were treated by computer. The postoperative temperature chart showed a progressively decreasing pyrexia in the first 8 days after cardiopulmonary bypass. The nature of the operation, the bypass time, the quantity of blood used during operation and the blood loss were statistically significant factors. Patients with a clinical infection had significantly higher temperatures from the first on. 8,9% of patients had a febrile reaction which continued after the 10th day after cardiopulmonary bypass. The cause was not always apparent but the appearance of their temperature graphs was distinguishable after the first week. Analysis of the systematic bacterial specimens showed bacterial contamination of nearly 10% of drains, 10% of blood cultures, over 15% of intravenous infusion catheters and 70% of urinary catheters. The significance of these results is discussed. The normal appearance of the temperature chart after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in the absence of clinical complications and bacterial contamination has been established.