תוצאת חיפוש

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Fournier's Gangrene

M. Cohen, E. Tamir, S. Abu-Abid, Y. Galili, M. Giladi, S. Avital, R. Shafir, Y. Klausner

Surgery and Infectious Disease Depts. and Division of Surgery, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

We treated 2 women and 8 men suffering from Fournier's gangrene during 1990-96. 2 had diabetes, 1 suffered from ulcerative colitis and 1 was an alcoholic. In 8 of them the infection was triggered by a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Treatment consisted of repeated wide debridement and early colostomy. This aggressive approach resulted in relief of the septic signs within 24 hours and permitted early skin grafting of the wounds. 2 patients died due to sepsis that caused multiple organ failure. The 8 who survived were hospitalized for an average of 35 days. On follow-up examination 1-5 years later all patients had undergone closure of the colostomy and were completely rehabilitated.

Fournier's gangrene is not rare in the geriatric population. We believe that early diagnosis and aggressive wide debridement, combined with early colostomy, are the keys to successful treatment.

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection

E. Rath, I. Shelef, E. Avinoah, Y. Lichtman, O. Levy, D. Atar

Depts. of Orthopedics, Diagnostic Radiology and General Surgery C, Soroka Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba

The dramatic course of necrotizing soft tissue infection represents a medical emergency, since it is limb - and life-threatening. Most necrotizing soft tissue infections are caused by mixed aerobic and anaerobic Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. Most case have been reported in immunocompromised hosts after penetrating trauma or surgery. We describe a unique series of cases of necrotizing soft tissue infection. The mainstay of treatment is early and daily debridement of devitalized tissue and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be considered.