Gangrene Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Gangrene, including details on smoking, treatment, causes, amputation, necrosis.

Management of Fournier's Gangrene: Review of 45 Cases.

Basoglu M, Ozbey I, Atamanalp SS, Yildirgan MI, Aydinli B, Polat O, Ozturk G, Peker K, Onbas O, Oren D

Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Ataturk University, 25070, Erzurum, Turkey.

PURPOSE: Fournier's gangrene is a fatal synergistic infectious disease with necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum and abdominal wall along with the scrotum and penis in men and the vulva in women. METHODS: The clinical and operative records of 45 patients with Fournier's gangrene during a 14-year period were analyzed. RESULTS: The etiology of the infection was identified in 39 patients. The most common causes were colorectal diseases and urogenital diseases. Four patients died with an overall mortality of 8.8%. The mortality rate was higher in patients with diabetes mellitus, but it was not statistically different. The age, duration of the symptoms, and the presence of rectal abscess were not found to be significant factors regarding mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery with extensive debridement of all necrotic tissue is the main stay of treatment.

Published 26 June 2007 in Surg Today, 37(7): 558-63.
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