Evaluation of the febrile patient in the intensive care unit

Abstract

Body temperature elevation in critically ill patients is a frequent phenomenon that is typically the result of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome. In nearly one half of the cases, this is the result of an infectious process that often mandates an operative intervention and/or immediate antibiotic therapy. Other less common etiologies such as organ ischemia, thrombosis, and medications must also be considered in the differential diagnosis because they too require specific diagnostic studies and therapeutic management.