Gangrene

Gangrene is a type of tissue death caused by a lack of blood supply.

A classic example is gangrene.

Gangrene is a type of tissue death caused by a lack of blood supply.

Without immediate intervention, ischemia may progress quickly to tissue necrosis and gangrene within a few hours.

It can be classified as dry gangrene, wet gangrene, gas gangrene, internal gangrene, and necrotizing fasciitis.

Gas gangrene (also known as clostridial myonecrosis and myonecrosis ) is a bacterial infection that produces tissue gas in gangrene.

Risk factors include diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, smoking, major trauma, alcoholism, HIV/AIDS, frostbite, and Raynaud's syndrome.

Severe disease may rarely be complicated by skin sores or gangrene.

Risk factors include diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, smoking, major trauma, alcoholism, HIV/AIDS, frostbite, and Raynaud's syndrome. Dry gangrene is often due to peripheral artery disease, but can be due to acute limb ischemia.

Complications may include an infection or tissue death which may require amputation; coronary artery disease, or stroke.

Surgical efforts may include debridement, amputation, or the use of maggot therapy.

As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene.

Dry gangrene is often due to peripheral artery disease, but can be due to acute limb ischemia.

In some cases, gangrene can occur within six hours of ischaemia.

Fournier gangrene is a type of necrotizing fasciitis or gangrene affecting the external genitalia or perineum.

Risk factors include diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, smoking, major trauma, alcoholism, HIV/AIDS, frostbite, and Raynaud's syndrome.

Debridement or amputation of necrotic tissue is usually delayed unless there is gangrene or systemic infection (sepsis).

The line of separation usually brings about complete separation, with eventual falling off of the gangrenous tissue if it is not removed surgically, a process called autoamputation.

Once the vessels are destroyed, the tissue is starved of oxygen and dies, which is often followed by gangrene.

If ischemia is detected early, when ischemic wounds rather than gangrene are present, the process can be treated by revascularization (via vascular bypass or angioplasty).

Those with severe ischemia who develop complications such as sepsis, intestinal gangrene, or bowel perforation may require more aggressive interventions such as surgery and intensive care.

In the case of gangrene due to critical limb ischemia, revascularization can be performed to treat the underlying peripheral artery disease.

It is defined as ischemic rest pain, arterial insufficiency ulcers, and gangrene.

It can be classified as dry gangrene, wet gangrene, gas gangrene, internal gangrene, and necrotizing fasciitis.

If ischemia is detected early, when ischemic wounds rather than gangrene are present, the process can be treated by revascularization (via vascular bypass or angioplasty).

Treatment for gangrene often requires revascularization, if possible.

The French Baroque composer Jean-Baptiste Lully contracted gangrene in January 1687 when, while conducting a performance of his Te Deum, he stabbed his own toe with his pointed staff (which was used as a baton).

Lully died from gangrene, having struck his foot with his long conducting staff during a performance of his Te Deum to celebrate Louis XIV's recovery from surgery.

Because of the high mortality associated with infected gangrene, an emergency salvage amputation, such as a guillotine amputation, is often needed to limit systemic effects of the infection.

Typical indications include catastrophic trauma or infection control in the setting of infected gangrene.

As early as 1028, flies and maggots were commonly used to treat chronic wounds or ulcers to prevent or arrest necrotic spread, as some species of maggots consume only dead flesh, leaving nearby living tissue unaffected.

If the ischemia has progressed to the point that the affected intestinal segments are gangrenous, a bowel resection of those segments is called for.

The French Baroque composer Jean-Baptiste Lully contracted gangrene in January 1687 when, while conducting a performance of his Te Deum, he stabbed his own toe with his pointed staff (which was used as a baton).

The wound turned gangrenous, but Lully refused to have his toe amputated and the infection spread, resulting in his death on 22 March.

French King Louis XIV died of gangrene in his leg on 1 September 1715, four days prior to his 77th birthday.

Louis died of gangrene at Versailles on 1 September 1715, four days before his 77th birthday, after 72 years on the throne.

Pasteur suggested three methods to eliminate the micro-organisms responsible for gangrene: filtration, exposure to heat, or exposure to chemical solutions.

Certain types may present with a fever or sepsis.

Certain types may present with a fever or sepsis.

Risk factors include diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, smoking, major trauma, alcoholism, HIV/AIDS, frostbite, and Raynaud's syndrome.