Fournier's gangrene: a retrospective clinical study on forty-one patients.
BACKGROUND
Fournier's gangrene, first described by Dr Jean Alfred Fournier in 1883, still has a high mortality rate. The prognosis and outcome of such patients were analysed.


METHODS
Forty-one patients with Fournier's gangrene were reviewed on the parameters of age, sex, aetiological agents, predisposing factors, treatment modalities and outcomes.


RESULTS
Although early intervention and careful treatment was carried out, nine of 41 patients (21.9%) died as a result of complications of septicemia. Among the treatment modalities, there were extensive debridement, drainage, excisions of the skin and fascia, colostomy procedure, extensive antibiotic treatment and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Although a combination of different treatment modalities were used, the mortality rate was 21.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
Fournier's gangrene is still a severe disease. Today, hyperbaric oxygen treatment is very effective in the treatment of this disease.
Ayan
Fadil
F
Department of General Surgery, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey.
Sunamak
Oguzhan
O
Paksoy
Sabri M
SM
Polat
Semra S
SS
As
Abdullah
A
Sakoglu
Nevin
N
Cetinkale
Oguz
O
Sirin
Feridun
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003646:Debridement; D018934:Fournier Gangrene / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012611:Scrotum / Q000601:surgery