Etiology of Fournier gangrene as a prognostic factor in mortality: Analysis of 121 cases

Abstract

ObjectiveEvaluate the origin of Fournier gangrene (FG) as a prognostic factor of morbidity and mortality. Material and methodsPatients who came to our clinic with a diagnosis of FG from 2010 to 2017 were included retrospectively. Patients were categorized depending on the origin of the infection. Three severity factors were determined in each group: days of hospital stay, the FG severity index, and mortality. Logistic regression test was performed to analyze the data. ResultsOf the 130 patients evaluated, the origin was established in 121 based on the clinical history and radiological and surgical findings. Thirty-five patients had an intestinal origin with a mortality of 20.68%, 46 patients had a testicular origin with a mortality of 2.22%, 12 patients had a urinary origin with a mortality of 0%, and 28 patients with a cutaneous origin with a mortality of 16.6%. The testicular origin was the most frequent (38%) in addition to presenting a lower hospital stay, a lower FG severity index, and a lower mortality than those with an intestinal origin (p=0.022). ConclusionsThe origin of the infection has a significant prognostic value in the mortality of the patient.