What is gangrene?

4 May 2021

It is organic tissue necrosis caused by serious bacterial infections or by lack of blood circulation, which usually affects arms, legs, feet, and hands, but also attacks internal organs and muscle tissue.

Diseases such as diabetes or atherosclerosis that affect blood circulation are important risk factors for gangrene, which can be treated with antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and surgery to restore blood supply and remove necrotic tissues.

When diagnosed and treated promptly, the chances of healing and minimizing damage are greater.

Gangrene classification:

Wet: there is a serious bacterial infection with a wet appearance that produces inflammation and blistering. If not treated quickly, it spreads to other parts of the body with deadly consequences.
Gas: attacks muscles, so may be harder to spot at first. The bacterial infection causes gases that necrotize the tissues and can be fatal if not treated properly.
Dry: typical of diabetics or patients with vascular diseases, the skin becomes rough and dry, acquiring a dark coloration that can reach black.
Internal: appears when blood stops flowing to an internal organ, being life-threatening.
Fournier’s gangrene: affects the genitals and its origin is usually a urinary tract infection.
Meleney’s gangrene: is a rare type that develops from a complication after surgery.

Signs and symptoms Gangrene

Severe pain in the affected area.
Foul sores.
Skin thinning and glow.
Changing skin color depending on the type of gangrene, being able to reach black.
Inflammation.
Appearance of blisters.
Cold sensation on the skin.
High fever.

Septicemia can occur when the infection spreads to other areas and has the following symptoms:

Low blood pressure.
Temperature elevated or below normal.
Elevated heart rate.
Confusion.
Trouble breathing.

Gangrene is an extremely serious condition, which requires urgent treatment. Failure to receive it will require amputation of affected limbs or risk of a life-threatening generalized infection.

Potential risks:

Smoking.
Overweight and obesity.
Weakened immune system.
Diabetes.
Cardiovascular diseases.
Head injury.
Surgeries.

Diagnosis and treatment Gangrene

Tests to diagnose gangrene include blood tests, cultures to determine the type of bacteria, x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.

Depending on the gangrene’s level of progression and origin, treatment options range from antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and surgery (debridement, grafting, and amputation).

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Gangrene

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

mayoclinic.org
medlineplus.gov
cun.es
topdoctors.es
cigna.com
medigraphic.com
Morales CR. Gangrena de Fournier. Enfermedades del Ano, Recto y Colon. 2007;13(2):36-41.
Álvarez DHT, Savigne GWO, Fernández MJI, et al. Gangrena isquémica de miembro inferior. Revista Cubana de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular. 2020;21(3):1-8.
Vargas RT, Mora ASÁ, Zeledón AAS. Gangrena de Fournier: generalidades. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2019;4(06):100-107.
Bolaños TOF, Saldarriaga RLM, Forero GJE, et al. Gangrena simétrica periférica asociada a norepinefrina en una paciente con urosepsis por Escherichia coli. AMC. 2018;22(3):341-348.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is gangrene?

Signs and symptoms Gangrene

Diagnosis and treatment Gangrene

Related centers and departments Gangrene

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Gangrene