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GANGRENE

Men's Health, Women's Health / By

GANGRENE

Gangrene is a serious condition that occurs when a lack of blood flow or a serious bacterial infection causes the death of body tissue.

  • Gangrene can affect any part of the body including the muscles and internal organs but it typically starts in the extremities, including the toes, fingers, and limbs.
  • Gangrene is a serious condition that can result in amputation of a limb and even death.
  • To stop the spread of tissue death as rapidly as possible, gangrene requires urgent medical attention.

CAUSES

Gangrene may occur due to:

  • Lack of blood supply
  • Infection
  • Trauma

Types of gangrene and their cause

  • Dry gangrene is characterized by dry, shriveled skin, and maybe brown to purplish-blue to black in color. It starts more slowly, and it is most commonly associated with arterial blood vessel disease, such as atherosclerosis, or in people who have diabetes.
  • Wet gangrene almost always involves a bacterial infection in the affected tissue. It may develop after a severe burn or trauma where a body part is crushed or squeezed. This can rapidly cut off blood supply to the affected area, causing tissue death and increased risk of infection. Infection from wet gangrene can spread quickly throughout the body and can be fatal, making it a very serious and life-threatening condition if not treated quickly. It often occurs in people with diabetes who unknowingly injure a toe or foot.
  • Gas gangrene is rare but very dangerous and occurs when infections develop deep inside the body, such as inside muscles or organs, usually as a result of trauma. It is caused by an infection with the bacterium Clostridium perfringens which produces toxins that releases gas. it develops in an injury or surgical wound that is depleted of blood. Gas gangrene can also be life-threatening.
  • Internal gangrene affects one or more of organs, such as intestines, appendix or gallbladder. This type occurs when there is a blockage of blood flow to an internal organ. For example, when the intestines bulge through a weakened area of muscle in the abdomen and become twisted.
  • Fournier’s gangrene usually arises due to an infection in the genital area or urinary tract. It is more prevalent in men, but it can also affect women.

Risk factors may include:

  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Blood vessel disease
  • Severe injury
  • Surgery
  • Smoking
  • Having HIV

SYMPTOMS

  • Skin discoloration
  • Skin that feels cold or cold to the touch
  • Swelling and pain at the site of infection
  • Fever
  • Foul-Smelling pus leaking from a blister or sore
  • Shiny appearance to the skin
  • A crackling noise that comes from the affected area when pressed

In some cases when the bacterial infection that originates in the gangrenes tissue spreads throughout the body, it can lead to septic shock. Symptoms of septic shock include:

  • Low blood pressure
  • Confusion
  • Shortness of breath
  • Lightheadedness
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Fever

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

To make a diagnosis, the doctor will carry out the following test:

  • Blood tests to look for the presence of certain bacteria or other germs. An abnormally elevated white blood cell counts usually indicate the presence of an infection.
  • Imaging tests including CT scan, X-ray, or a magnetic resonance imaging scan to view body structures, such as internal organs, blood vessels or bones, and check the extent to which the gangrene has spread.
  • Fluid or tissue culture to examine for the bacterium Clostridium perfringens.
  • In some cases, surgery may be performed to check the extent of spread.
TREATMENT

Treatment options may depend on the severity of your gangrene. Usually, tissues that have been damaged by gangrene cannot be saved, but steps can be taken to reduce the progression of your condition.

Treatment options may include:

  • Antibiotics that are given intravenously or taken orally
  • Surgery to remove dead tissues which may help to stop gangrene from spreading and allows healthy tissue to heal.
  • If possible, damaged or diseased blood vessel may be repaired in order to increase blood flow to the affected area.
  • A skin graft may be used to repair damage to the skin caused by gangrene. This can only be done if an adequate blood supply has been restored to the damaged skin.
  • In severe cases, an affected body part may need to be amputated.
  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may also be used. In this type of treatment, you are placed in a specially designed chamber filled with oxygen at a higher pressure than the one found in the outside air. The theory is that blood rich in oxygen slows the growth of bacteria and helps infected wound heals more easily.