Surgical intervention for the complications of meningococcal-induced purpura fulminans.
Purpura fulminans is an infrequent but sometimes catastrophic illness that usually complicates a viral, rickettsial or bacterial infection. This communication presents a retrospective review of 152 patients with meningococcemia hospitalized at Children's Medical Center of Dallas from January, 1983, through December, 1993. Eighteen (11.9%) of the 152 patients developed purpura fulminans. Thirteen (72%) of the 18 patients with purpura fulminans needed one or more surgeries including skin grafts, local debridement, microvascular flaps or amputations. Five patients (28%) died.
Herrera
R
R
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
Hobar
P C
PC
Ginsburg
C M
CM
D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D011693:Purpura / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps