Laparotomy for fever

Abstract

This is a paper read at The Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting of The Association of Surgeons and Physicians of Malta in Jan. 1973. The problems involved in the diagnosis of fever of uncertain or unknown origin are well known. In the majority of these patients, the diagnosis becomes established after a full investigation. There are, however, cases where the most careful investigation fails to discover the cause even though the fever may have lasted months. It is indeed some of these patients who may benefit by a laparotomy not only because a definite diagnosis may result but also because a definitive cure becomes possible. Two case studies that illustrate this fact are described, whereby they show that laparotomy may at the very least provide definite diagnosis of an intra-abdominal disorder allowing rational management of the patient and may also in the best of cases cure such disorder.