Gangrene
Gangrene is gotten from the Latin word gangreana and Greek word gangraina both of which mean sanitization of tissues. Gangrene is brought on because of absence of blood supply to the tissues. A condition where the tissue kicks the bucket and blood supply hindered is called rot. Despite the fact that the most well-known zones that are influenced are the furthest points, it can likewise influence the inside organs and muscles.
Autosomal latent familial adenomatous polyposis or MYH related polyposis is mellow and shows just when both the folks are transporters.
There are at least five types of gangrene:
Dry gangrene: This is also called senile gangrene affecting older patients. It evolves at the
distal part of the limb and extends to the toes and feet. This mainly occurs due to arterial occlusion.
Wet gangrene: Wet gangrene affects tissues that are naturally moist. Organs that are affected
are lungs, cervix, mouth, bowel and vulva. Bed sores are a type of wet gangrene and can affect the sacrum, heels
and buttocks even if they are not wet.
Gas gangrene: Gas gangrene is caused by Clostridium perfringens bacteria which is a bacterial
infection producing gas within the tissues.
Internal gangrene: When gangrene affects and infects the internal organs of the body such as the
colon or the appendix, it is called internal gangrene.
Fournier’s gangrene: Fournier’s gangrene is named after a French venereologist Jean Alfred
Fournier. It is a necrotizing infection of the perineum.
- Arteriosclerosis
- Diabetes
- Trauma or injury
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Raynaud’s phenomenon – blood vessels that supply the skin are narrowed
- Surgery
- Suppressed immune system eg: HIV, chemotherapy
Dry gangrene:
- Cold and numb skin
- Dry and shrivelled skin
- Change in skin color from blue to black
Wet gangrene
- Change in skin color from brown to black
- Fever
- Foul-smelling sores with pus discharges
- Crackling noise when area is pressed
- Swelling and pain at the infected site
Gas gangrene
- Confusion
- Fever
- General ill-feeling
- Low blood pressure
- Severe pain in the area
Arteriogram: This is done to check for blockages in the blood vessels.
Blood tests: A WBC count is taken which may be elevated.
CT scan: This is done to scan the internal organs for abnormalities.
Culture tests: A tissue culture or fluid from the wounds is collected to check for any bacterial infection.
Biopsy: A biopsy is done to examine the tissue under the microscope to look for malignancies.
Treatment: gangrenous segment of whichever body part needs to be removed surgically.