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Fournier Gangrene

Yajai Apibunyopas, MD and Pholaphat Charles Inboriboon, MPH, MD Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Fournier gangrene is a life-threatening necrotizing skin infection of the genitals and/or perineum.

  • Urologic emergency requiring antibiotics and emergent surgical débridement

ALERT

Four...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • History of mild trauma or localized infection in perineum, genitals, rectum

  • Progressive fullness, discomfort, and/or pain

  • May report rapidly progressing skin necrosis

  • Development of syst...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Patients should be placed on cardiac monitoring and observed for any clinical worsening.

  • Aggressive fluid resuscitation with isotonic solutions should be performed as needed t...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Urology follow-up for postoperative care

  • Wound care follow-up for wound care

  • Primary care follow-up for medical conditions

  • Depending on comorbidities, may need furth...

REFERENCES

1
Chennamsetty  A, Khourdaji  I, Burks  F, et al. Contemporary diagnosis and management of Fournier's gangrene. Ther Adv Urol.  2015; 7(4):...

ADDITIONAL READING

Auerbach J, Bornstein K, Ramzy M, et al. Fournier gangrene in the emergency department: diagnostic dilemmas, treatments and current perspectives. Open Access Em...

SEE ALSO

Anaerobic and Necrotizing Infections; Sepsis 

CODES

ICD10

  • N49.3 Fournier gangrene

  • M72.6 Necrotizing fasciitis

SNOMED

  • 398318005 Fournier's gangrene

  • 397900003 Fournier's gangrene of penis

  • 236782005 Fournier's gangrene of scrotum

  • 52486002 Necrotizing fasci...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Rapid diagnosis and surgical intervention is imperative; if the diagnosis is unclear, diagnostic testing and observation may be helpful.

  • Emergent urologic consultation should occur as s...

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