Fournier's Gangrene: Experience with Management of 46 Cases in a Tertiary Institution

Abstract

Background: Fournier's gangrene is a rapidly spreading necrotizing gangrene affecting the perineum, Perianal and genital regions but remarkably sparing the testicles, bladder and rectum due to their separate blood supply which is directly from the aorta. The aim of this study is to share our experience with the management of 46 cases. Patients and method: We retrospectively analysed the medical records of 46 patients admitted with Fournier's gangrene between April 2005 and December 2011 in the urology unit of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Data extracted from these include age, sex, hospital stay, premorbid diseases, mobility, mortality, laboratory investigations and treatments carried out. Results: Fourty six patients were admitted and managed for Fournier's gangrene during the study period. All the patients were male and mean age was 50 years (range 20 - 80 years). Five patients died (10.90%) mortality, 41 (89.10%) patients survived. The shortest hospital stay was 13 days and longest was 120 days. 45.7% of the patients had urethral stricture with watering can perineum as predisposing factor, 16 (34.80%) had diabetes mellitus, 7 (15.2%) had perineal injuries as the predisposing factors while 5 (10.90%) patients had uraemia and one patient (2.20%) each had bladder tumour and scrotal abscess as their predisposing factors, in 3 patients (6.50%) it was idiopathic. Only 34 (73.90%) patients had wound swab microscopy culture and sensitivity on admission. The culture grew Klebsiella spp. in 9 (26.50%), Staph aureus and E. coli in 5 (10.90%) of cases each, while Gram positive rod and Gram negative Cocci with 4 (11.80%) and 6 (17.60%) respectively. Conclusion: Fournier's gangrene which is a rapidly progressive, fulminant polymicrobial synergistic infection of the perineum and genitals, is now changing pattern. Extensive surgical debridement and broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics remain the mainstay of treatment.