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

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°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°C or a sustained temperature of ≥ 38.0°C for more than one hour. Temperatures were recorded and compared for 48 hours postoperatively. Results: Febrile episodes of 38.0-38.3°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°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°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.

Robotic hysterectomy; Laparotomy; Fever.

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