Massive death of tissue with putrefaction is called gangrene. ( slough: Dead piece of soft tissue, skin, fascia, tendon).
Classification
There are two types of gangrene
A. Dry Gangrene
B. Moist Gangrene or Wet Gangrene
According to cause:
Secondary gangrene RESTED
Infective - Boil, Carbuncle, gas gangrene
Traumatic
- Direct - Gush injury, pressure sore contraction of strangulated bowel
- Indirect - Due to injury of vessels at some distance from the site of gangrene
Physical gangrene - Burn, scald, frostbite, electricity
Venom gangrene - Peripheral thrombosis of veins (Extensive)
Treatment of gangrene
General
Care of heart
Correction of anemia
Relief of pain by suitable analgesics
Nutritious diet
Control of blood sugar in diabetics
Local
Conservative
(Limb shaving attitude)
The part should be kept absolutely dry
Cool (reduce local metabolism and O2 demand) in TAO (Thrombo Angitis Obliterans)
Care of pressure points
Operative
Sympathetic denervation to improve blood supply in TAO
Minor surgical toileting - removal of the slough, eschar, and release of pus
In traumatic injury to blood vessels direct vascular surgery
Amputation - As a life shaving measure
Dry gangrene
Gradual onset and slow progress
Gradual arterial occlusion and unimpaired venous drainage
Affected part dried, mummified
Skin wrinkled, greasy to touch, and more or less shiny due to loss of fat. Discolored look due to deposition of iron-sulfide.
Mild sepsis and putrefaction
The sharp line of demarcation
Toxemia light
Examples
Senile gangrene
Burger's disease (TAO)
Moist or Wet gangrene
Sudden onset and rapid progress
Sudden and simultaneous arterial and venous occlusion
The affected part is moist, edematous with surface blisters and a stinking smell
Skin is edematous with surface blebs, discolored congested, and purplish in appearance
Gross sepsis and putrefaction
Line of demarcation vague
Toxemia marked
Examples
Diabetic gangrene
Acute traumatic gangrene
Acute appendicitis
Strangulated bowel
Fournier's gangrene of the scrotum
Cause
This is a quickly spreading gangrene of scrotum, the came off which is not definitely known. The usual explanation is that there are obliterative arteries of the arterioles supplying the scrotal skin, resulting from a fulmination inflammation tissue of the scrotum (usually streptococcal, some times staphylococcal, B coli, Cl. welchii)
Clinical feature
There is a sudden appearance of inflammation in the scrotum which quickly progresses to gangrene. Gangrene usually spreads or is distributed all over the scrotum and even surrounding skin and may be extended to outside of the scrotal sac.
Treatment
An antibiotic is started at the sending the discharge for culture and antibiotic sensitivity test.
Can use an antibiotic ointment
If no response the gangrenous skin is excised
Later an operation is undertaken to cover up the testis.
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