To cite: Reid VL, McLay J. BMJ Case Reports Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/ bcr-2012-006519 DESCRIPTION An 87-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with confusion, sinus tachycardia, hypotension and fever. Laboratory investigations confirmed metabolic acidosis, acute kidney injury (urea 18.5 mmol/l, serum creatinine 197 mmol/l and Egfr 21 ml/min/1.7...

Introduction The term necrotising fasciitis (NF) was first coined in 1952 by Wilson1 to describe a rapidly progressive inflammation and necrosis of subcutaneous tissues and the deep layer of superficial fascia with sparing of the deep fascia and muscle. It had previously been described variously as haemolytic gangrene, acute streptococcal gangrene, gangrenous erysipelas, necrotising erysipelas,...

ACTINOBACULUM SCHAALII INVOLVED IN FOURNIER’S GANGRENE 1 Isabelle Vanden Bempt 1 , Stefanie Van Trappen 2 , Ilse Cleenwerck 2 , Paul De Vos 2 , Kim 2 Camps 1 , Annemie Celens 1 , Martine Van De Vyvere 1 3 Department of Microbiology, Ziekenhuisnetwerk Antwerpen, Stuivenberg, Antwerp, 4 Belgium 1 and BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection, Laboratory for Microbiology, Ghent 5 University, K.L. Ledeganckstra...

Introduction: Gangrene is defined as the decay or death of an organ tissue due to a compromised blood supply. It perilous and fatal condition occurring most commonly diabetes. In general, people with diabetes have significantly increased risk lower extremity gangrene leading amputation.

Gas gangrene is a rare condition, usually associated with contaminated traumatic injuries. It carries a high rate of mortality and morbidity. A number of studies have implicated non-traumatic gas gangrene and colonic neoplasia. This paper reports a patient who presented spontaneously with Clostridium septicum gas gangrene and an occult caecal carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION Fournier's gangrene is characterized by tissue ischemia leading to rapidly progressing necrotizing fasciitis. CASE PRESENTATION We present the case of a patient with Fournier's gangrene after third-degree burns. Clinical manifestations, laboratory results and treatment options are discussed. CONCLUSION Fournier's gangrene is a surgical emergency. Although it can be lethal, it i...

Symmetrical peripheral gangrene is an ischemic necrosis simultaneously involving the distal portions of two or more extremities without any proximal arterial obstruction or vasculitis. It may occur as a result of a large number of infectious and non-infectious causes. A few cases of symmetrical peripheral gangrene associated with cardiac disease have been described in the literature. We describ...

BACKGROUND Tropical idiopathic lower limb gangrene (TILLG) is also known as Symmetrical gangrene in the African, Idiopathic gangrene in the African and Idiopathic peripheral gangrene of the tropics. The aetiopathogenesis of this clinical entity is a mystery. OBJECTIVE To review methods of diagnosing tropical idiopathic lower limb gangrene (TILLG) and highlight its clinical variants. METHOD ...

How is Gangrene formed? Gangrene may begin from extrinsic factors or intrinsic factors. Extrinsic factors may be accident, injury, or exposure to extremely low temperatures, which leads to formation of abnormal clotting. However, not everyone may develop gangrene after such occurances. For the condition to become gangrenous, there would be an internal tendency within the genetic coding of the p...

An uncommon case of Fournier's gangrene following hydrocelectomy is described. A 78-year-old male with no remarkable previous history, who underwent hydrocelectomy in another hospital, developed Fournier's gangrene 15 days later. The patient required wide aggressive surgical debridement, hyperbaric oxygen chamber and broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage. Afterwards the patient was referred for pl...