Frozen sections are unreliable for the diagnosis of necrotizing soft tissue infections

Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections

151 Necrotizing soft-tissue infections have been recognized for centuries. Hippocrates vividly described the disease in the 5th century BC, as follows: ÒThe erysipelas would quickly spread in all directions. Flesh, sinews, and bones fell away in great quantities.Ó Necrotizing soft-tissue infections were subsequently designated as Òstreptococcal gangrene,Ó Òphagedena,Ó and Òphagedena gangrenosum...

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections.

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections

EVIDENCE DEFINITIONS · Class I: Prospective randomized controlled trial. · Class II: Prospective clinical study or retrospective analysis of reliable data. Includes observational, cohort, prevalence, or case control studies. · Class III: Retrospective study. Includes database or registry reviews, large series of case reports, expert opinion. · Technology assessment: A technology study which doe...

Necrotizing soft-tissue infections.

OBJECTIVE To provide a contemporary review of the diagnosis and management of necrotizing soft-tissue infections. DATA SOURCES Scientific literature and internet sources. STUDY SELECTION Major articles of importance in this area. CONCLUSIONS The mortality for necrotizing soft-tissue infections appears to be decreasing, possibly due to improved recognition and earlier delivery of more effe...

Diagnosis of necrotizing soft tissue infections by computed tomography.

HYPOTHESIS In contrast to previous beliefs, we hypothesize that computed tomography (CT) scanning is sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs). DESIGN Retrospective and prospective case series. SETTING Academic medical center. PATIENTS Patients who were clinically suspected of having NSTIs from January 1, 2003, through April 30, 2009, and who u...