Fournier's gangrene: a retrospective clinical study on forty-one patients

BACKGROUND: Fournier's gangrene, first described by Dr Jean Alfred Fournier in 1883, still has a high mortality rate. The prognosis and outcome of such patients were analysed. METHODS: Forty-one patients with Fournier's gangrene were reviewed on the parameters of age, sex, aetiological agents, predisposing factors, treatment modalities and outcomes. RESULTS: Although early intervention and careful treatment was carried out, nine of 41 patients (21.9%) died as a result of complications of septicemia. Among the treatment modalities, there were extensive debridement, drainage, excisions of the skin and fascia, colostomy procedure, extensive antibiotic treatment and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Although a combination of different treatment modalities were used, the mortality rate was 21.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Fournier's gangrene is still a severe disease. Today, hyperbaric oxygen treatment is very effective in the treatment of this disease.