Gas gangrene as a surgical emergency - own experience

Pol Przegl Chir. 2019 Oct 11;91(6):1-5. doi: 10.5604/01.3001.0013.5076.

Abstract

In this paper the authors would like to present a correct procedure in both surgical and hyperbaric treatment of patients with gas gangrene admitted to a surgical department during ER. Gas gangrene is not very common these days, but when it comes to dealing with gangrenous infection in the emergency it is quite likely to make errors in both diagnostic and therapeutic manners. When there is a gas gangrene in a patient at the emergency time plays crucial role and the proper application of procedures is vital for the patient's survival. 10 cases made the study group here, all of them were patients diagnosed and treated surgically due to gas gangrene. As shown here, It is important to perform a revision of surgical wounds after few hours since primary surgery and to begin hyperbaric treatment as quickly as possible. The findings and suggestions included in this study are supported by own experience of The 2nd Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery of Medical University in Białystok, Poland.

Keywords: Clostridium; gangrene; hyperbaric treatment; infection; skin; surgery.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Clostridium perfringens / isolation & purification
  • Debridement / methods*
  • Emergencies*
  • Female
  • Gas Gangrene / microbiology
  • Gas Gangrene / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Poland
  • Surgical Procedures, Operative
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents