Gangrene of male external genitalia in a patient with colorectal disease. Anatomic pathways of spread

[Perineal-scrotal gangrene: epidemiological and therapeutic aspects. About 45 cases]

Perineoscrotal gangrene is an acute disease, a rare and severe affection of the perineum, whose evolution is unpredictable and rapidly extensive. The diagnosis is clinical. The paraclinical examinations allow early diagnosis and assessment of anatomical and biological repercussions. We conducted a retrospective study of 45 patients spread over six years, involving a multidisciplinary team consisting of three specialists (urologists, visceral, plastic surgeons). The average age was 52 years. The largely male dominated our series. Fournier gangrene was the most common etiology. We noted five cases of death (11%) in the acute phase, secondary to septic shock (four patients) or multiple organ failure (one patient). The evolution was favorable in 40 other patients in the series, requiring an initial management in intensive care unit, and surgical treatment. The average hospital stay was 17 days. After the acute phase, all patients underwent a surgery for skin coverage, ranging from guided healing (two patients) to musculocutaneous flap of the gracilis (six patients) via the secondary suture (four patients), the burying the testes (18 patients) and half thick skin graft, with a functional and aesthetic result was acceptable, and minimal sequelae. In our series, the most predictive prognostic factors would be the delay of care, sepsis on admission and associated diseases.

It's Fournier's gangrene still dangerous?

BACKGROUND

Fournier's gangrene is known to have an impact in the morbidity and despite antibiotics and aggressive debridement, the mortality rate remains high.

OBJECTIVES

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).

CONCLUSION

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.

Fournier's gangrene: is it scrotal gangrene?

INTRODUCTION

Fournier's gangrene was originally described as scrotal gangrene in young males. Today, it is generally accepted as synergistic necrotizing fasciitis of perineal, genital, or perianal regions, and the epidemiologic data have changed. However, there are still limited data about females due to the lack of female patients, even in large case series.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the medical records of all patients who received surgery for emergency conditions over the past 22 years was performed to identify patients with Fournier's gangrene. Data from these patients were then reviewed to determine the age, gender, etiology, causative bacteria, predisposing factors, treatment modalities, length of hospital stay, and morbidity and mortality rates associated with Fournier's gangrene. Data were evaluated using multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Sixty-five patients (20 female) were identified with the diagnosis of Fournier's gangrene. The mean age was 50.8 years. The most common etiology was hemorrhoidectomy in male and perianal abscess in female patients. The most commonly isolated microorganism in both male and female patients was Escherichia coli. Twenty-nine patients had diabetes mellitus, which was the most common predisposing factor. Mean hospitalization time was 24.4 days and the overall mortality was 27.70%.

CONCLUSION

Fournier's gangrene is still an important disease with high mortality rates in spite of the developments in intensive care units and new-generation antibiotics. It seems that there are no major differences between male and female patients in the characteristics of the condition.

[Perineal gangrene: new bacteriologic approach. Results of medico-surgical treatment (81 cases)]

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The objective of this retrospective study was to report the results of a series of 81 cases of perineal gangrene treated in the same center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1988 to 1998, 81 patients (64 males, 17 females, mean age: 58 years) with perineal gangrene were treated by a medico-surgical team, by means of a protocol combining appropriate intensive care measures based on a new bacteriologic concept of infectious agents, extensive excisions and drainage of the infraperitoneal region and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

RESULTS

The mortality rate was 24.7%. Mean duration of intensive care stay was 19 days, mean duration of hospital stay was 31 +/- 4 days (range: 6 to 60 days). Risk factors were: age > 68 years (p = 0.001), shock (p = 0.83), subcutaneous crepitation (p = 0.25) and severity index > 10 (p = 0.003). Sequelae were anal incontinence (n = 3) and permanent colostomy (n = 5). Secondary plastic reconstruction was necessary in four patients. There were no urologic or genital sequelae.

CONCLUSION

Perineal gangrene is still a very serious disease. The time to treatment, the simplified severity index and consideration of bacteriologic combinations are the main prognostic factors.

Fournier's gangrene after hemorrhoidectomy: association with drug-induced agranulocytosis. Report of a case

An unusual case of Fournier's gangrene after hemorrhoidectomy and drug-induced agranulocytosis, as the predisposing condition, is described. The patient had severe granulocytopenia that was attributed to the recent use of dipyrone. Together with hemodynamic resuscitation, broad-spectrum antibiotic and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were started. Wide surgical excision of all the gangrenous tissues, in addition to laparoscopic formation of a defunctioning sigmoid loop colostomy, was performed. The white blood cell count rose steadily and the patient experienced a rapid recovery. We emphasize that radical surgery must be accompanied by pharmacologic interventions for a successful outcome in such cases.

Fournier's gangrene: still highly lethal

Five patients with necrotizing soft tissue infections of the perineum and scrotum are presented. There were one female and four male patients, aged from 35 to 70 years. Portals of entry were perirectal abscesses in four cases and a scrotal abscess in one case. All patients required extensive surgical debridement and intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics. Operative debridement involved the scrotum, the perineal and inguinal area, the upper thighs and the anterior abdominal wall. One patient required transverse loop colostomy and one loop sigmoidostomy. One patient was reoperated on after inadequate drainage of a perirectal abscess. Three patients were referred to our unit after some delay, while one patient did not seek medical care until after being febrile for 2 weeks. Despite aggressive debridement, this last patient died of fulminant sepsis. Fournier's gangrene, which is not so rare as in generally considered, is still associated with a high mortality, which can be reduced only by improving medical awareness and early treatment both of the primary cause and of necrotizing fasciitis.

Fournier's gangrene

Fournier's gangrene is the result of a highly lethal and rapidly progressive necrotizing infection of the perineal and genital fascia, with gangrene of the overlying skin. The infection is generally polymicrobial and probably synergistic in nature. Anorectal, genitourinary, and traumatic infections are the most common causes of Fournier's gangrene. The cutaneous manifestations of Fournier's gangrene are merely "the tip of the iceberg" because the infection spreads aggressively along recognized fascial planes. Perioperative fluid resuscitation, cardiopulmonary support, antibiotic therapy, and nutritional support are of major importance in management of the disease; however, examination under anesthesia with aggressive surgical débridement remains the most important aspect of treatment. Multiple surgical procedures may be necessary to bring the infection under control. In the majority of instances, the testes, glans penis, bladder, and rectum are spared destruction because of their separate blood supplies. Diversion of the fecal and urinary streams may not always be necessary but should always be considered on a case-by-case basis. The value of hyperbaric oxygenation in Fournier's gangrene remains unproven, but there are theoretical reasons why it may be beneficial, at least in some cases. Despite optimal medical and surgical management, the mortality rate in Fournier's gangrene still exceeds 40% in many series.

New approach to the management of Fournier's gangrene

A new method of treating Fournier's gangrene is described in 13 patients. There was no mortality and the average hospital stay was 10 days. Considerable gain in man-hours and expense was recorded when compared with the old method of treatment with antibiotics and wound debridement.

Colorectal neurovasculature and anal sphincter

The varied blood supply of the colon and rectum has been described. It may be stated that the efficiency of any surgeon's hand is primarily dependent on the knowledge that guides it. Significant anatomic facts are described herein. An important blood supply to the terminal ileum comes from the generally unknown ileal artery, which, when absent, creates a critical, poorly vascularized area and thus an inappropriate area for an anastomosis. This right colic artery may be absent in 2 per cent. It may arise in common with the middle colic trunk (52 per cent). The middle colic artery is absent in 3 per cent. It occurs as a separate branch in 44 per cent and may be derived from celiac artery rarely. The inferior mesenteric artery divides into the left colic, which ascends to the splenic flexure, and a descending branch that continues downward as the superior rectal artery. The left colic artery may not reach the splenic flexure. The marginal artery may be interrupted or weakly represented at the splenic flexure. Therefore, one should perform a ligation of the left colic vessel before its bifurcation if the splenic flexure is to be preserved. The superior rectal artery is the main blood supply of the rectum. Its branching on the rectum is varied, but it has a rich anastomosis with the other rectal arteries, namely, the middle rectal and inferior rectal arteries. Sudeck's point is not critical. The middle rectal artery varies in number and origin and is not essential provided the inferior rectal artery is intact. The anatomy of the anal canal is described. The rectum is for a short distance surrounded by the anal canal with the external sphincter. The internal sphincter is the end of circular muscle of the rectum. The external sphincter can be thought of as one continuous muscle divided by longitudinal bands into three main parts: subcutaneous, superficial, and deep. Below the pectinate line in the anal canal, the nerve supply, lymphatic drainage, blood supply, and epithelium are different from that in the rectum.