Adult ; Cellulitis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Dyspnea ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Gas Gangrene ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male

Peripheral gangrene, characterized by distal ischemia of the extremities, is a rare complication in patients with falciparum malaria. Patients with this complication have generally undergone early amputation of the affected areas. In this report, we describe 3 adult Thai patients presented at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bangkok, with high grade of fever ranged 6-9 days, jaundice, acute renal failure, respiratory failure, alteration of consciousness and shock. Two patients had gangrene developed at the lower extremities on day 1 of hospitalization and 1 patient had gangrene developed on day 3. Blood smears revealed hyperparasitemia with Plasmodium falciparum. These patients were diagnosed as having severe malaria with peripheral gangrene. The resolution of gangrene was successfully achieved by treatment with artesunate and conservative treatment in 2 of 3 cases.
Middle Aged ; Male ; Malaria, Falciparum/*complications/drug therapy ; Humans ; Gangrene/*etiology ; Female ; Antimalarials/therapeutic use ; Adult

Fournier's gangrene (FG) is an extremely aggressive and rapidly progressive polymicrobial soft tissue infection of the perineum, anal area or genitalial regions with a high mortality rate. The objectives of this study were to share our experience with the management of this serious infectious disease over the last 15 years. This retrospective study examined 24 patients diagnosed as having FG who were admitted to our hospital between March 1996 and December 2011. The gender, age, etiology, predisposing factors, laboratory findings, treatment modality, hospitalization time and spread of gangrene of the subjects were all recorded and analyzed. The results showed that the mean age of the patients was 48.33 years, the male-to-female ratio was 5:1 and the mortality rate was 20.8% (5/24). The most common predisposing factor was diabetes mellitus in 10 patients (41.6%), followed by alcohol abuse, obesity, neoplasms and immunosuppression. The most common etiology was peri-anal and peri-rectal abscesses (45.8%), followed by lesions of urogenital origin (33.3%) and cutaneous (8.3%) origin. No local pathologies could be identified in 3 (12.5%) patients. The most commonly isolated microorganisms were Escherichia coli (62.5%), followed by Enterococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The median admission Fournier's gangrene severity index (FGSI) score for survivors was 5.63±1.89 against 13.6±3.64 for non-survivors which was designed for predicting the disease severity in the series. Early diagnosis and immediate extensive surgical debridement were significant prognostic factors in the management of Fournier gangrene. Individualized reconstructive modalities for wound coverage were useful in that they repaired the tissue defect and improved the quality of life. We are led to conclude that Fournier's gangrene is a severe condition with a high mortality. The Fournier's gangrene severity index (FGSI) score at admission serves as a good predictor for the disease severity. Early diagnosis, surgical debridement and aggressive fluid therapy are significant prognostic factors in the management of Fournier gangrene. Individualized reconstructive surgery modalities for wound coverage are useful to correct the tissue defect and improve the quality of life.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fournier Gangrene ; diagnosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Intestinal obstruction is a common surgical emergency. Transmesenteric hernia is an unusual cause of bowel obstruction that may result in irreversible damage of the bowel and a fatal outcome. Once incarceration of the bowel occurs, strangulation and gangrene follow immediately. The mortality rate associated with this condition is about 15%, but in the presence of gangrene of the bowel, the mortality rate is more than 50%. An accurate preoperative diagnosis of a transmesenteric hernia is very difficult and rarely made. Therefore, in patients with small bowel obstruction, in the absence of a history of previous surgery to suggest adhesions or an external hernia, the possibility of a transmesenteric hernia must be considered. We describe a case with gangrene of a long segment of the small bowel caused by a transmesenteric hernia through a large defect of small bowel mesentery in a child.
Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gangrene ; Hernia/complications/*diagnosis/radiography ; Humans ; Ileal Diseases/*diagnosis/radiography/surgery ; Intestinal Obstruction/etiology/radiography ; Intestine, Small/*pathology/surgery ; Mesentery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We report here a case with hypereosinophilia and peripheral artery occlusion. A 32-yr-old Korean woman presented to us with lower extremity swelling and pain. Angiography revealed that multiple lower extremity arteries were occlusive. The biopsy specimen showed perivascular and periadnexal dense eosinophilic infiltration in dermis and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Laboratory investigations revealed a persistent hypereosinophilia. She was prescribed prednisolone 60 mg daily. Her skin lesion and pain were improved and the eosinophil count was dramatically decreased. After discharge, eosinophil count gradually increased again. Cyanosis and pain of her fingers recurred. She had been treated with cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. Her eosinophilia was decreased, but the cyanosis and tingling sense were progressive. The extremity arterial stenoses were slightly progressed. Skin biopsy showed perivascular eosinophilic infiltration in the dermis and CD40 ligand (CD40L) positive eosinophilic infiltration. The serum TNF-alpha was markedly increased. These results suggest that CD40L (a member of TNF-alpha superfamily) could play a role in the inflammatory processes when eosinophil infiltration and activation are observed. We prescribed prednisolone, cyclophosphamide, clopidogrel, cilostazol, beraprost and nifedipine, and she was discharged.
Adult ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology ; CD40 Ligand/analysis ; Cyanosis/etiology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eosinophilia/*diagnosis/etiology ; Female ; Gangrene/etiology ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome/blood/complications/*diagnosis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology ; Skin/chemistry/pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; Vasculitis/*diagnosis/etiology

INTRODUCTIONFournier's gangrene (FG) is a life-threatening infection of the perineal and genital areas. We examined the comorbid diseases, treatments and factors affecting mortality in FG.

METHODSThis retrospective clinical study involved 52 patients who were treated for FG. The demographics, aetiologies, comorbid diseases, laboratory and bacteriology findings, treatment methods and length of hospital stay were compared between patients who died and those who survived the infection.

RESULTSOut of the 52 patients, 12 died and 40 survived. Patients who died and those who survived were similar in terms of their mean age at first presentation (62 vs. 55 years), the mean number of debridements (3.6 vs. 2.9), the mean length of hospital stay (25 vs. 34 days) and gender (p > 0.05 for each). However, the mean leukocyte count was higher in patients who died than in surviving patients (33.6 ± 7.2 vs. 14.3 ± 4.9 cells/mml; p < 0.05). The most common aetiology in both groups was perianal abscess. Deviating colostomy was performed in 13 patients. Of the patients who died, nine had haemodialysis-dependent chronic renal failure and type II diabetes mellitus (DM), while one had type II DM and hypertension.

CONCLUSIONHaemodialysis-dependent chronic renal failure and a high leukocyte count at first presentation were found to be the factors affecting mortality in FG patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Comorbidity ; Debridement ; methods ; Female ; Fournier Gangrene ; complications ; mortality ; therapy ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; etiology ; Length of Stay ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

Traumatic gas gangrene is a fatal infection mainly caused by Clostridium perfringens. It is a challenge to manage gas gangrene in open wounds and control infection after debridement or amputation. The aim of the present study was to use vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) with continuous irrigation of potassium permanganate to manage infective wounds of gas gangrene and observe its clinical efficacy. A total of 48 patients with open traumatic gas gangrene infection were included in this study. Amputations were done for 27 patients, and limb salvage procedures were performed for the others. After amputation or aggressive debridement, the VSD system, including polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foam dressing and polyurethane (PU) film, with continuous irrigation of 1:5000 potassium permanganate solutions, was applied to the wounds. During the follow-up, all the patients healed without recurrence within 8-18 months. There were four complications. Cardiac arrest during amputation surgery occurred in one patient who suffered from severe septic shock. Emergent resuscitation was performed and the patient returned to stable condition. One patient suffered from mixed infection of Staphylococcal aureus, and a second-stage debridement was performed. One patient suffered from severe pain of the limb after the debridement. Exploratory operation was done and the possible reason was trauma of a local peripheral nerve. Three cases of crush syndrome had dialysis treatment for concomitant renal failure. In conclusion, VSD can convert open wound to closed wound, and evacuate necrotic tissues. Furthermore, potassium permanganate solutions help eliminate anaerobic microenvironment and achieve good therapeutic effect on gas gangrene and mixed infection. VSD with continuous irrigation of potassium permanganate is a novel, simple and feasible alternative for severe traumatic open wounds with gas gangrene infection.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Drainage ; Female ; Gas Gangrene ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; methods ; Potassium Permanganate ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (CPAN) is an uncommon form of vasculitis involving small and medium sized arteries of unknown etiology. The disease can be differentiated from polyarteritis nodosa by its limitation to the skin and lack of progression to visceral involvement. The characteristic manifestations are subcutaneous nodule, livedo reticularis, and ulceration, mostly localized on the lower extremity. Arthralgia, myalgia, peripheral neuropathy, and constitutional symptoms such as fever and malaise may also be present. We describe a 34-yr-old woman presented with severe ischemic change of the fingertip and subcutaneous nodules without systemic manifestations as an unusual initial manifestation of CPAN. Therapy with corticosteroid and alprostadil induce a moderate improvement of skin lesions. However, necrosis of the finger got worse and the finger was amputated.
Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic use ; Skin Diseases, Vascular/*complications/drug therapy/pathology ; Polyarteritis Nodosa/*complications/drug therapy/pathology ; Humans ; Gangrene/*etiology/surgery ; Fingers ; Female ; Amputation ; Alprostadil/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical presentation, pathologic characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma of the penis.

METHODSA 49-year-old man presented with painful swelling and inflammation of the foreskin, failed to respond to antibiotic treatment and dorsal incision, and was instead complicated by Fournier gangrene. Then he underwent debridement and pathological examination.

RESULTSPathological results indicated cutaneous T-cell lymphoma of the penis. Immunohistochemistry showed CD3 and CD45 RO to be positive, but CD30, CD79a, CD20 and HMB negative. The patient was treated by interferon alpha and ultraviolet B for 2 weeks, followed by total removal of the external genitalia because of necrosis of the corpus spongiosum, which involved the scrotum and right testis on pathological examination.

CONCLUSIONCutaneous T-cell lymphoma of the penis is a rare condition and easily mis diagnosed in the early phase. Definitive diagnosis depends on pathological study.

CD3 Complex ; analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fournier Gangrene ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; analysis ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology

Variceal bleeding and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) are serious and life-threatening complications of advanced liver disease. Terlipressin is widely used to manage both acute variceal bleeding and HRS due to its potency and long duration of action. The most severe (though rare) adverse event is ischemia. The present report describes the case of a patient with gangrene and osteomyelitis secondary to terlipressin therapy. A 71-year-old male with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B) and chronic hepatitis C was admitted due to a drowsy mental status. The patient had several experiences of orthopedic surgery. His creatinine level had gradually elevated to 4.02 mg/dL, and his urine output decreased to 500 mL/24 hr. The patient was diagnosed as having grade III hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and type II HRS. Terlipressin and albumin were administered intravenously to treat the HRS over 11 days. Although he recovered from the HE and HRS, the patient developed peripheral gangrene and osteomyelitis in both feet. His right toes were cured with the aid of rescue therapy, but his left three toes had to be amputated. Peripheral gangrene and osteomyelitis secondary to terlipressin therapy occur only rarely, and there is no specific rescue therapy for these conditions. Thus, attention should be paid to the possibility of ischemia of the skin and bone during or after terlipressin therapy.
Aged ; Creatinine/blood ; Foot/pathology ; Gangrene/*etiology ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications/diagnosis ; Liver Diseases/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Lypressin/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Male ; Osteomyelitis/*etiology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Toe Phalanges/radiography ; Vasoconstrictor Agents/*adverse effects/therapeutic use