Gangrene
Gangrene is a type of tissue death caused by a lack of blood supply. Symptoms may include a change in skin color to red or black, numbness, swelling, pain, skin breakdown, and coolness. The feet and hands are most commonly affected. If the gangrene is caused by an infectious agent, it may present with a fever or sepsis.
| Gangrene | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Gangrenous necrosis |
| Dry gangrene affecting the toes as a result of peripheral artery disease | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease, surgery, podiatry |
| Symptoms | Change in skin color to red or black, numbness, pain, skin breakdown, coolness |
| Complications | Sepsis, amputation |
| Types | Dry, wet, gas, internal, necrotizing fasciitis |
| Risk factors | Diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, smoking, major trauma, alcoholism, plague, HIV/AIDS, frostbite, Raynaud's syndrome |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptom, With medical imaging used to identify the underlying cause. |
| Treatment | Depends on underlying cause |
| Prognosis | Variable |
| Frequency | Unknown |
Risk factors include diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, smoking, major trauma, alcoholism, HIV/AIDS, frostbite, influenza, dengue fever, malaria, chickenpox, plague, hypernatremia, radiation injuries, meningococcal disease, Group B streptococcal infection and Raynaud's syndrome. It can be classified as dry gangrene, wet gangrene, gas gangrene, internal gangrene, and necrotizing fasciitis. The diagnosis of gangrene is based on symptoms and supported by tests such as medical imaging.
Treatment may involve surgery to remove the dead tissue, antibiotics to treat any infection, and efforts to address the underlying cause. Surgical efforts may include debridement, amputation, or the use of maggot therapy. Efforts to treat the underlying cause may include bypass surgery or angioplasty. In certain cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be useful. How commonly the condition occurs is unknown.