Clin Endosc.  2014 May;47(3):236-241. 10.5946/ce.2014.47.3.236.

Postpolypectomy Fever, a Rare Adverse Event of Polypectomy: Nested Case-Control Study

• Lee SH
• Kim KJ
• Yang DH
• Jeong KW
• Ye BD
• Byeon JS
• Myung SJ
• Yang SK
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2049019
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5946/ce.2014.47.3.236

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Although postpolypectomy fever (PPF) without colon perforation or hemorrhage is rare, its incidence and risk factors have not been investigated. The objective of this study was to analyze the incidence and risk factors for PPF among inpatients.
METHODS
Seven patients with PPF were matched with 70 patients without PPF from a total of 3,444 patients who underwent colonoscopic polypectomy. The PPF incidence during index hospitalization after colonoscopy was calculated, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for risk factors.
RESULTS
PPF without bleeding or perforation in the colon occurred in seven patients (0.2%). The median age was 58 years for cases and 61 years for controls. The median interval from polypectomy to occurrence of fever was 7 hours, and the median duration of fever was 9 hours. Polyp size >2 cm (adjusted OR, 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.15; p=0.02) and hypertension (adjusted OR, 14.40; 95% CI, 1.23 to 180.87; p=0.03) were associated with a significantly increased risk of PPF. PPF increased the length of hospitalization.
CONCLUSIONS
Although the crude incidence of PPF is low, PPF may prolong hospitalization. Risk factors for PPF include hypertension and large polyps.

Keyword

Postpolypectomy syndrome; Colonoscopic polypectomy

MeSH Terms

Case-Control Studies*
Colon
Colonoscopy
Fever*
Hemorrhage
Hospitalization
Humans
Hypertension
Incidence
Inpatients
Multivariate Analysis
Odds Ratio
Polyps
Risk Factors

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