Septic shock due to Fournier's gangrene of the scrotum.
A 57-year-old morbidly obese (160 kg) man presented with a 12 h history of severe bilateral scrotal pain and swelling. His scrotum was erythematous, with cellulitis advancing superiorly along the anterior abdominal wall. He was in septic shock. Following resuscitation with intravenous fluids, commencement of vasopressor infusion and broad-spectrum antimicrobials, he underwent surgical exploration and debridement. This revealed a devitalised gangrenous scrotum with abscess formation noted in the ischio-rectal spaces. This was debrided posteriorly to the wall of the rectum. The penis was de-gloved. Both testicles were spared. A colostomy was performed on day 3 to maintain a clean environment for healing. Subsequent scrotal reconstruction and grafting was performed with a pedicled gracilis flap and split skin grafting. The colostomy was reversed at 5 months.
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine Department, University College Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland. michaelcallaghan7@hotmail.com
Michael Andrew
MA
Callaghan
Richard
R
Baggott
Frank T
FT
D'Arcy
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003125:Colostomy; D003646:Debridement; D018934:Fournier Gangrene / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010413:Penis / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012611:Scrotum / Q000601:surgery*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents