Fournier gangrene: Difference between revisions
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
* | *Necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum, genitalia, and/or perianal area | ||
* | *A '''life-threatening surgical emergency''' with mortality 20-40%<ref name="eke">Eke N. Fournier's gangrene: a review of 1726 cases. ''Br J Surg''. 2000;87(6):718-728. PMID 10848848.</ref> | ||
*Risk | *Polymicrobial infection: aerobic + anaerobic organisms (E. coli, Bacteroides, Streptococcus, Clostridium, S. aureus) | ||
*Rapidly progressive — tissue destruction can advance centimeters per hour | |||
*Source: perianal (most common), urogenital, or cutaneous infection | |||
==Risk Factors== | |||
*Diabetes mellitus (present in 40-60% of cases) | |||
*Immunosuppression (HIV, malignancy, chemotherapy, transplant) | |||
*Obesity | |||
*Chronic alcohol use | |||
*Peripheral vascular disease | |||
*Perianal abscess, urethral stricture, urinary tract instrumentation | |||
*Recent surgery or trauma to the perineum | |||
==Clinical Features== | ==Clinical Features== | ||
* | *Severe perineal/genital pain (often out of proportion to examination findings early on) | ||
* | *Erythema, edema, and tenderness of perineum/scrotum/vulva | ||
*Rapid progression: skin changes from erythema → dusky → bullae → necrosis → gangrene | |||
*Crepitus on palpation (subcutaneous gas — pathognomonic but not always present) | |||
*Fever, tachycardia, systemic toxicity / [[Sepsis (main)|septic shock]] | |||
*Scrotal swelling with disproportionate pain | |||
*May appear deceptively benign early in the course | |||
==Evaluation== | |||
*'''Clinical diagnosis''' — do not delay surgical consultation for imaging | |||
*Labs: CBC (leukocytosis often >15,000), BMP, lactate, blood cultures, CRP | |||
*CT with contrast: subcutaneous gas, fascial thickening, fat stranding, abscess formation | |||
**CT has high sensitivity (~90%) but should not delay surgery<ref name="levenson">Levenson RB, et al. Fournier gangrene: role of imaging. ''Radiographics''. 2008;28(2):519-528. PMID 18349455.</ref> | |||
*LRINEC score may help risk-stratify (see [[LRINEC score calculator]]) | |||
*X-ray: may show subcutaneous emphysema | |||
== | ==Management== | ||
* | *Emergent surgical debridement — the single most important intervention | ||
** | **Often requires multiple return trips to OR for serial debridement | ||
** | **Early surgery correlates with decreased mortality | ||
* | *Broad-spectrum IV antibiotics | ||
**Vancomycin (or Linezolid) + | |||
**Piperacillin-tazobactam (or Meropenem) + | |||
**Clindamycin (for toxin suppression and synergistic coverage) | |||
*Aggressive IV fluid resuscitation and vasopressors for [[Septic shock|septic shock]] | |||
*Tetanus prophylaxis | |||
*Wound care: vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) after debridement | |||
*Consider hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) as adjunct (limited evidence) | |||
==Disposition== | ==Disposition== | ||
* | *ICU admission with emergent surgical consultation | ||
* | *Urology and/or general surgery | ||
* | *High mortality — early recognition and aggressive surgery are key | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
[[Necrotizing | *[[Necrotizing fasciitis]] | ||
*[[Perianal abscess]] | |||
*[[Testicular torsion]] | |||
*[[Septic shock]] | |||
== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Infectious Disease]] | ||
[[Category:Urology]] | |||
[[Category:Surgery]] | |||
Latest revision as of 09:36, 22 March 2026
Background
- Necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum, genitalia, and/or perianal area
- A life-threatening surgical emergency with mortality 20-40%[1]
- Polymicrobial infection: aerobic + anaerobic organisms (E. coli, Bacteroides, Streptococcus, Clostridium, S. aureus)
- Rapidly progressive — tissue destruction can advance centimeters per hour
- Source: perianal (most common), urogenital, or cutaneous infection
Risk Factors
- Diabetes mellitus (present in 40-60% of cases)
- Immunosuppression (HIV, malignancy, chemotherapy, transplant)
- Obesity
- Chronic alcohol use
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Perianal abscess, urethral stricture, urinary tract instrumentation
- Recent surgery or trauma to the perineum
Clinical Features
- Severe perineal/genital pain (often out of proportion to examination findings early on)
- Erythema, edema, and tenderness of perineum/scrotum/vulva
- Rapid progression: skin changes from erythema → dusky → bullae → necrosis → gangrene
- Crepitus on palpation (subcutaneous gas — pathognomonic but not always present)
- Fever, tachycardia, systemic toxicity / septic shock
- Scrotal swelling with disproportionate pain
- May appear deceptively benign early in the course
Evaluation
- Clinical diagnosis — do not delay surgical consultation for imaging
- Labs: CBC (leukocytosis often >15,000), BMP, lactate, blood cultures, CRP
- CT with contrast: subcutaneous gas, fascial thickening, fat stranding, abscess formation
- CT has high sensitivity (~90%) but should not delay surgery[2]
- LRINEC score may help risk-stratify (see LRINEC score calculator)
- X-ray: may show subcutaneous emphysema
Management
- Emergent surgical debridement — the single most important intervention
- Often requires multiple return trips to OR for serial debridement
- Early surgery correlates with decreased mortality
- Broad-spectrum IV antibiotics
- Vancomycin (or Linezolid) +
- Piperacillin-tazobactam (or Meropenem) +
- Clindamycin (for toxin suppression and synergistic coverage)
- Aggressive IV fluid resuscitation and vasopressors for septic shock
- Tetanus prophylaxis
- Wound care: vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) after debridement
- Consider hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) as adjunct (limited evidence)
Disposition
- ICU admission with emergent surgical consultation
- Urology and/or general surgery
- High mortality — early recognition and aggressive surgery are key