Necrotising fasciitis: clinical features in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Necrotising fasciitis is a fulminant and life-threatening infection. It is associated with a high mortality rate and is often seen in the aged and immunocompromised patients. Liver cirrhosis is regarded as a risk factor of necrotising fasciitis. From January 1995 to December 2003, 17 cirrhotic patients who had been admitted to our hospital for necrotising fasciitis were identified. The infection all developed in the lower extremities. Only six patients survived, and the overall case fatality rate was 64.7%. The cases were divided into two groups: survivors and nonsurvivors. Comparisons were made on age, gender, presenting symptoms, underlying medical diseases, laboratory data and clinical course. Underlying diabetes mellitus and grade C liver cirrhosis were the only statistically significant factors that led to poor prognosis (p< 0.05).
Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC.
Nai-Chen
NC
Cheng
Hao-Chi
HC
Tai
Yueh-Bih
YB
Tang
Shan-Chwen
SC
Chang
Jann-Tay
JT
Wang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors