title: Meningococcal sepsis and purpura fulminans: the surgical perspective.
abstract: Meningococcal sepsis and purpura fulminans is a rare but highly lethal disease process that requires a multidisciplinary team of experts to optimise morbidity and mortality outcomes due to the breadth of complications of the disease. The surgical perspective involves the critical care management which utilises all currently available measured outcomes of critical care management as well as experimental therapies. Limb loss is common, and is reflective of the high incidence of compartment syndrome compounded by the significant soft tissue loss secondary to purpura and limb ischaemia, presumptively due to digital microemboli. A multidisciplinary approach involving current standards in critical care and early surgical evaluation are important in improving patient outcomes and limb salvage.
authors: Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. dcmorris12@hotmail.com
authors: Marvin E
authors: ME
authors: Morris
authors: John G
authors: JG
authors: Maijub
authors: Sarah K
authors: SK
authors: Walker
authors: Glenn P
authors: GP
authors: Gardner
authors: Riley G
authors: RG
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000379:methods*; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055665:Purpura Fulminans / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Infectious Diseases; Vascular Medicine