The most common causes of<unk>  are often summarized for medical students by a mnemonic beginning with the letter W. The classic list consists of five W's – Wind, Water, Wound, Walking, and Wonder Drugs, but two other causes should also be considered – Wing/Waterway and (W)abscess. There is a characteristic timeframe after surgery when many of these complications tend to develop (postoperative days or POD). Category Day Description Wind POD 1-2 the lungs, i.e. pneumonia, aspiration, and pulmonary embolism; atelectasis has been commonly cited as a cause of<unk> , but supporting evidence is lacking Water POD 3-5 urinary tract infection, possibly catheter-associated (if a urinary catheter was inserted during surgery or remains in place currently i.e. Foley catheter ) Wound POD 5-7 infection of the surgical incision(s), either superficial or deep (W)abscess POD 5-7 infection of an organ or space Walking (or VEINS pronounced like "Weins") POD 5+ (risk may persist for months post-operatively) deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism Wonder drugs or “What did we do?” Anytime drug<unk>  or reaction to blood products, either a febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reaction or transfusion-related acute lung injury Wing/Waterway Anytime bloodstream infection, phlebitis, or cellulitis related to intravenous lines, either central or peripheral Other important causes of early<unk>  that are omitted from this list include malignant hyperthermia, a potentially life-threatening but treatable response to inhalational anesthetic and paralytic agents. Early<unk>  (i.e., within the first 48 hours post-operatively) has often been ascribed to atelectasis, or splinting, but it is most likely part of a natural and non-infectious inflammatory response (with sympathetic nervous system involvement) to the tissue injury sustained during surgery; it generally requires no medical intervention except antipyretics and extra fluid intake.
Postoperative fever
Postoperative nausea and vomiting
Postoperative wounds
Postoperative hematoma
Abdominal compartment syndrome
Retroperitoneal bleeding
Post-vagotomy diarrhea
Hemoperitoneum