title: It's Fournier's gangrene still dangerous?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fournier's gangrene is known to have an impact in the morbidity and despite antibiotics and aggressive debridement, the mortality rate remains high.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the morbidity and mortality in the treatment of Fournier's gangrene in our experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 14 patients with Fournier's gangrene who presented at the University Hospital Center "Mother Teresa" from January 1997 to December 2006 were reviewed retrospectively to analyze the outcome and identify the risk factor and prognostic indicators of mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 14 patients, 5 died and 9 survived. Mean age was 54 years (range from 41-61): it was 53 years in the group of survivors and 62 years in deceased group. There was a significant difference in leukocyte count between patients who survived (range 4900-17000/mm) and those died (range 20.300-31000/mm3). Mean hospital stay was about 19 days (range 2-57 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The interval from the onset of clinical symptoms to the initial surgical intervention seems to be the most important prognostic factor with a significant impact on outcome. Despite extensive therapeutic efforts, Fournier's gangrene remains a surgical emergency and early recognition with prompt radical debridement is the mainstays of management.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, Tirana, Albania.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bilali
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Celiku
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bilali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018934:Fournier Gangrene / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate