Introduction: Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is the necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum and genital area with high mortality. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review included 41 patients diagnosed with FG in our hospitals from 1995 to 2010, divided into survivors and nonsurvivors. We analyzed anamnestic, clinical and laboratory data. Results: The mortality rate was 36.6% (15/41 patients). Elevated heart and respiratory rates, high serum creatinine, low serum bicarbonate, pre-existing kidney disease, and higher median extent of affected body surface were associated with higher mortality. Severe sepsis on admission and hypotension below 90 mm Hg were also predictive for higher mortality. The median FG severity index (FGSI) score was higher in nonsurvivors (11 compared to 6, p < 0.0001). No cases of testicular necrosis were noted. Conclusion: Besides standard clinical and laboratory parameters included in the FGSI calculation, higher extent of affected body surface area and presence of hypotension on admission were also positively associated with mortality.
Brief Reports should be submitted online to www.editorialmanager.com/ amsurg. (See details online under ''Instructions for Authors''.) They should be no more than 4 double-spaced pages with no Abstract or sub-headings, with a maximum of four (4) references. If figures are included, they should be limited to two (2). The cost of printing color figures is the responsibility of the author.
Stapled hemorrhoidectomy (SH) and Ligasure hemorrhoidectomy (LH) are standard for hemorrhoidal disease treatment, but the surgical principle is different. This randomized clinical trial compared the 2 methods. We included 98 patients with grade 3 hemorrhoidal disease: 46 patients treated by SH and 52 patients by LH. Incidence of complications, recurrence, postoperative pain, wound healing time, and time off everyday activity were observed. The follow-up period was 24 months. We found that LH has a significantly shorter wound healing time. The recurrence rate and the overall postoperative complication rate was higher after SH but not significantly (recurrence LH vs. SH: 1.9% vs. 11.1%; complications LH vs. SH: 13.5% vs. 23.9%). Postoperative pain level, analgesic consumption, and time off everyday activity were practically the same in both groups. Both procedures can be used to treat grade 3 hemorrhoidal disease with the same efficacy, but analysis of recurrence after SH is necessary.
This study has shown that DCFM has the same short-term efficacy in hernia treatment as the standard PPM, with a reduction in postoperative pain and analgesic use, and a decrease in overall postoperative complications. In the rat model, DCFM resulted in milder inflammatory response and thicker fibrous plate than the PPM. Further biomechanical testing and longer follow-up is necessary, but initial results are promising.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.