Fournier’s Gangrene

Abstract

Fournier’s gangrene is a disease of the perineal, genital or perianal regions characterized by necrositic fasciitis due to synergistic polymicrobial infection. Fourteen patients diagnosed with Fournier’s gangrene between 2009-2018 in our clinic were evaluated retrospectively. All patients were admitted to the emergency department or outpatient clinic of our hospital. The mean age of the patients was 58.6 (37-81) years. Diabetes mellitus (42%) and hypertension (42%) were the most common comorbidities in our patients with Fournier’s gangrene. Surgical debridement of necrotic tissues, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and nutritional support were applied to all patients. In the second session, reconstructive surgery was performed to repair the wound defect in 3 patients, hyperbaric oxygen therapy in 8 patients, negative pressure dressing in 5 patients, diversion colostomy in 3 patients. Mortality rate was 7% (1 patient). In conclusion, Fournier’s gangrene is a serious disease which is seen rarely in the emergencies of general surgery and urology clinics but has high mortality due to its insidious clinic.

Keywords

• debridement
• fournier’s gangrene
• necrositic fasciitis