[Necrotizing fasciitis: a medical and surgical emergency. Apropos of a case]

J Chir (Paris). 1992 Mar;129(3):169-71.
[Article in French]

Abstract

We report about a 66-years-old obese and diabetic female patient, treated with anti-inflammatories for osteoarthritis of the hip and operated for varices of the lower limbs by a bilateral stripping of the internal saphenous veins, who presented with a mortal necrotizing fasciitis during the postoperative period. Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe, infrequent disease jeopardizing the vital prognosis, in which an appropriate and early treatment (medical, using antibiotics, and surgical by extensive debridement) can prevent a fatal outcome. The most often involved germs are streptococci (45%). The association of anaerobic and aerobic germs sometimes causes mixed cellulitis. The vital prognosis is always threatened by postoperative fasciitis. The mortality rate ranges from 50 to 75%, the main causes of death being a septic shock or pulmonary embolism. The functional prognosis of the surviving patients depends on the extent and quality of surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amoxicillin / therapeutic use
  • Clavulanic Acid
  • Clavulanic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / therapeutic use
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Fasciitis / drug therapy
  • Fasciitis / etiology
  • Fasciitis / microbiology
  • Fasciitis / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Necrosis
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Prognosis
  • Streptococcal Infections / complications
  • Varicose Veins / complications
  • Varicose Veins / surgery*

Substances

  • Clavulanic Acids
  • Clavulanic Acid
  • Amoxicillin