A complex approach to the treatment of Fournier's gangrene.

Abstract

Fournier's gangrene is a necrotizing, life-threatening fasciitis of the perineal, genital and perianal region which can spread to the abdominal wall, causing soft-tissue necrosis and sepsis. It is usually a polymicrobial infection. The prevalence of the disease is low, but the mortality rate remains high. Several urogenital and anorectal diseases, as well as diabetes mellitus and conditions associated with the immunosuppressive reaction, may predispose an individual to the development of Fournier's gangrene. A diagnosis of Fournier's gangrene is clinical, but radiological examinations may be helpful in establishing the extent of the necrotic process. The treatment consists mainly of aggressive surgical debridement, broad-spectrum antibiotic combinations and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The Fournier's gangrene severity index (FGSI) score can be used to evaluate patients. Because of its heterogeneity and aggressiveness, Fournier's gangrene is a very serious and complex medical condition that should be under the care of an interdisciplinary team with access not only to the best surgical and critical care but also to a hyperbaric chamber.