Fournier's gangrene: early diagnosis is the best remedy

Despite the broadening knowledge about Fournier's gangrene, its mortality rate is still considered very high. The authors describe the etiology, pathomechanism, the possible pathways of progression, and the causes and predisposing factors of the disease. Besides the traditional--surgical and antibiotic--therapy, complementary ways of treatment are described. Between 1994 and 2000, ten patients were treated for Fournier's gangrene in our department. We present our experience, the early signs and the way clinical symptoms develop. It is important to observe the early severe general condition and initially minimal local changes for early diagnosis in improved survival.     

Predisposing factors and treatment outcome in Fournier's gangrene. Analysis of 28 cases

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the etiologic factors and the effects of surgical debridement and adjunctive therapies on morbidity and mortality of Fournier's gangrene. METHODS: 27 males, 1 female, a total of 28 patients with a mean age of 58 years treated for Fournier's gangrene were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Predisposing factors including diabetes, alcohol abuse, paraplegia and renal insufficiency were identifiable in 54% of the patients. Etiologic origin of the gangrene was urogenital, cutaneous and anorectal in 43, 25 and 11% of the patients, respectively. The pathology was limited to genitalia in 10, extending to perineum in 8, the umbilicus in 7 and even up to the axilla in 3 patients. Suprapubic cystostomy and colostomy were necessary in 18 and 2 cases, respectively. We used hyperbaric oxygen therapy in 2 and honey in 6 patients to accelerate wound healing. A repeat debridement was necessary in 39% of the cases. Plastic surgery and grafting were done in 14 patients. Our mortality rate was 7%. CONCLUSION: Early recognition of the pathology and aggressive surgical debridement are the mainstay of the management of Fournier's gangrene. Additional strategies to improve wound healing and increase patient survival are also needed.     

Fournier's gangrene.

Twenty-five cases of gangrene of the scrotum and penis have been analysed. The anterior scrotum or the whole scrotum were the areas most frequently involved. The results of seminal analyses showed marked oligozoospermia during the infective period. Haemolytic streptococcus was the most common organism. The aetiology of the disease is reviewed and "infective gangrene of the scrotum and penis" is considered to be a more suitable diagnostic label than Fournier's gangrene.     

Minimal debridement in the treatment of Fournier's gangrene.

Scrotal and perineal gangrene of the male genitalia was first described by Fournier in 1883. Treatment of the disease remains surgical despite the availability of modern antibiotics. Many authors advocate a wide debridement of all tissue superficial to the involved fascial layers. We have reviewed our experience of using wide and minimal debridement as the surgical technique of choice. In our retrospective study, nine patients were diagnosed and treated over a 2-year period for Fournier's gangrene. The mean age was 65+/-28 years. Two patients were admitted from chronic care facilities, four were diabetic, and two had taken oral steroids. Five of the nine patients were treated with the technique of minimal tissue debridement. In brief, the scrotum was bivalved along the median raphe, each scrotal sac was drained, and the testicles were exteriorized. Orchiectomy was performed if the testicles were grossly necrotic. Penrose drains were inserted from each scrotal sac to the counterincision at the level of the internal rings. All of the tissue involved was irrigated with betadine and peroxide, after debridement of the necrotic tissue. Broad-spectrum antibiotics along with daily packing were continued for 4 to 6 weeks; at the end of that time the testicles were returned to the scrotum and the skin was loosely reapproximated. Three of the nine patients were treated with wide debridement of all the soft tissue including the fascia. One of the patients displayed gangrene of the entire abdominal wall; he was not a surgical candidate and died 3 days later. The four patients treated with minimal debridement all obtained successful treatment of their fasciitis. However, one died of complications related to a duodenal ulcer. The mean hospital stay was 45+/-10 days. Two of the three patients treated with wide debridement required plastic reconstruction using a skin-muscle flap of the perineum. The remaining patient treated with wide debridement died of complications related to metastatic renal carcinoma. The mean hospital stay of this group was 62+/-12 days. The specific flora included: Bacteroidis fragilis in 87 per cent, Peptostreptococcus and Streptococcus in 75 per cent, Clostridia group, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas in 62 per cent, Klebsiella in 50 per cent, Staphylococcus in 37 per cent, and Proteus in 12 per cent of the patients. In the surgical management of Fournier's gangrene, wide drainage with minimal debridement resulted in similar morbidity and shorter hospital stay when compared with extensive debridement.     

Fournier's gangrene: etiology, treatment, and complications.

Presented here are 23 patients with Fournier's gangrene who were treated between 1990 and 1999 in the departments of general surgery, urology, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. Patients were reviewed retrospectively and are discussed according to age, gender, bacteriology, etiology, treatment, and outcome in the light of the current literature.     

Lethal Fournier's gangrene following vasectomy.

A case is presented of a healthy young man who had Fournier's gangrene after standard bilateral vasectomy. Despite maximal treatment, including extensive necrectomy and broad-spectrum antibiotics, this complication was lethal. To our knowledge a lethal complication of vasectomy has not been reported in the literature.     

A case of Fournier's gangrene.

Authors report their case of Fournier's gangrene on the basis of their own observations and relying on data of the literature. Complete healing can be expected of immediate radical surgery and of aggressive intensive and antibiotic treatments.     

预后评分系统在Fournier坏疽诊治中的应用

目的 比较两种预后评分系统在我国Fournier坏疽患者死亡风险预测中的适用情况.方法 回顾性分析15例Fournier坏疽患者的临床特点及治疗转归,将研究对象分为存活组(A组)和死亡组(B组),并应用Fournier坏疽严重程度指数(FGSI)和Uludag FGSI进行死亡风险评估,采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)进行评分表效果评估,并利用Z检验比较FGSI和UFGSI之间准确性的差异.结果 存活组(A组)11例,死亡组(B组)4例.平均年龄(P =0.024)及术前美国麻醉师协会(ASA)评分(P =0.04)B组均显著高于A组.A组患者接受的清创次数明显多于B组患者.FGSI评分A组低于B组[(1.6±0.9)vs (3.8±1.7),P＜0.05].ROC曲线下面积(AUR) =0.886.UFGSI评分A组明显低于B组[(3.6±1.5)vs(6.0±2.2),P＜0.05],ROC AUR=0.852.UFGSI和FGSI的AUC比较差异无统计学意义.结论 FGSI和UFGSI均可有效预测我国Fournier坏疽患者的死亡风险,并且两种评分系统差异无显著统计学意义,但适合我国患者的死亡评估阈值还需要进一步大样本研究重新确定.     

New approach to the management of Fournier's gangrene.

A new method of treating Fournier's gangrene is described in 13 patients. There was no mortality and the average hospital stay was 10 days. Considerable gain in man-hours and expense was recorded when compared with the old method of treatment with antibiotics and wound debridement.     

Necrotizing cutaneous infections and Fournier's gangrene

Fournier's gangrene is a necrotizing infection of skin and soft tissue of the perineum. Several sources of contamination have been described: cutaneous, urological or anorectal. Anatomy of the perineum helps in the prediction of the extension of the infection. The bacterial flora (usually mixed aero-anaerobic flora) depends on the source of infection: gram-positive cocci (skin source) combined with gram-negative bacilli and anaerobes (urological or anorectal source). CT scan and echography are useful tools for the diagnosis without delaying surgery. In the diagnostic procedure and the management, proctological examination, retrograde uretrography, bowel and urine derivation should be discussed.     

Treatment and complications of Fournier's gangrene

Ten patients with Fournier's gangrene were seen over an 11-month period; 3 had indwelling urethral catheters, 3 had preceding perineal infection and 6 had a history of alcohol abuse. An average of 2.1 operations was required per patient and the average hospital stay was 41 days. The mortality rate was 20%; 7 patients developed acute renal failure and 5 developed adult respiratory distress syndrome. Early treatment of these complications should help to reduce the mortality of this disease.     

Fournier's gangrene. Experience in the treatment of gangrenous inflammation of the male genitals

Four cases of acute gangrenous inflammation of the male genitals are discussed, after a brief review of the literature, with reference to the authors' own experience. In addition to dermal and fascial necrosis the disease causes severe sepsis and shock. Characteristics include rapid progression, occasionally in a matter of hours, and high rate of mortality. Attention is called to the importance of early surgical intervention and to the difficulties in combatting the septic shock.