Gas Gangrene

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gas gangrene

[¦gas ′gaŋ‚grēn] (medicine) A localized, but rapidly spreading, necrotizing bacterial wound infection characterized by edema, gas production, and discoloration; caused by several species of Clostridium.

Gas Gangrene

gas phlegmon, malignant edema, Antonov’s fire, a severe acute infectious disease caused by several microbial clostridia (Cl. perfringens, Cl. septicum, Cl. oedematiens, Cl. histolyticum) that grow without access to oxygen (anaerobic infection). It arises in deep, lacerated, and crushed extensive wounds that have pockets and recesses and in which the local blood circulation has been disrupted. It is particularly common in wartime and occurs almost exclusively in the limbs (usually the legs). It affects all soft tissues but mainly fatty tissue and muscles. The classical symptoms of inflammation are absent in gas gangrene. The process is characterized by progressive edema, gas formation in the tissues, poor general condition, and necrosis caused by the specific toxins of the causative agents of the disease and by the products of tissue breakdown. The incubation period is 3-5 days. The affected limb quickly swells. Two phases are distinguished according to the local changes in the course of the process: edema formation and the development of gas gangrene. In the latter, gas is produced in the dying tissues. The edema is the tissue reaction to the toxins, and the gas is the result of the decomposition of muscle glycogen and protein by the toxins.

Severe bursting pain develops at the site of gas gangrene and edema in the wound. The skin at first is pale and then becomes covered with brown, bronze, or blue spots; it is cold to the touch. In the classical emphysematous form, gas formation predominates over the edema. The wound is dry, and gas bubbles are released when it is pressed. The muscles at first look like boiled meat. They then become dark with a greenish tint; the tissue is a dirty gray in color. In the edematous (toxic) form, the tissues look like jelly and a bloody-serous fluid exudes from the wound. There is little gas in the tissues.

Mixed and other atypical forms of gas gangrene occur. In these forms, the patient’s general condition deteriorates rapidly, and signs of poisoning by the metabolic products of the microbes and decomposition of dead tissues intensify. The temperature rises to 39-40° C, the pulse accelerates (130-150 beats a minute), blood pressure is low (80 mm mercury and lower), and breathing becomes rapid. General excitation or inhibition and insomnia develop. The patient is usually conscious. Treatment consists of emergency surgery, serotherapy, antibiotics, and blood transfusion. Preventative measures include early treatment of the wound and use of antigangrene serum.

P. B. AVISOV

gas gangrene

Note: This page may contain terms or definitions that are offensive or inappropriate for some readers.

gangrene

[gang´grēn] the death of body tissue, generally in considerable mass, usually associated with loss of vascular (nutritive) supply, and followed by bacterial invasion and putrefaction. Although it usually affects the extremities, gangrene sometimes may involve the internal organs. Symptoms depend on the site and include fever, pain, darkening of the skin, and an unpleasant odor. If the condition involves an internal organ, it is generally attended by pain and collapse. Treatment includes correcting the causes and is frequently successful with modern medications and surgery.Types of Gangrene. The three major types are moist, dry, and gas gangrene. Moist and dry gangrene result from loss of blood circulation due to various causes; gas gangrene occurs in wounds infected by anaerobic bacteria, among which are various species of Clostridium, which break down tissue by gas production and by toxins.
Moist gangrene is caused by sudden stoppage of blood, resulting from burning by heat or acid, severe freezing, physical accident that destroys the tissue, a tourniquet that has been left on too long, or a clot or other embolism. At first, tissue affected by moist gangrene has the color of a bad bruise, is swollen, and often blistered. The gangrene is likely to spread with great speed. Toxins are formed in the affected tissues and absorbed.
Dry gangrene occurs gradually and results from slow reduction of the blood flow in the arteries. There is no subsequent bacterial decomposition; the tissues become dry and shriveled. It occurs only in the extremities, and can occur with arteriosclerosis, in old age, or in advanced stages of diabetes mellitus. buerger's disease can also sometimes cause dry gangrene. Symptoms include gradual shrinking of the tissue, which becomes cold and lacking in pulse, and turns first brown and then black. Usually a line of demarcation is formed where the gangrene stops, owing to the fact that the tissue above this line continues to receive an adequate supply of blood.
Gas gangrene results from dirty lacerated wounds infected by anaerobic bacteria, especially species of Clostridium. It is an acute, severe, painful condition in which muscles and subcutaneous tissues become filled with gas and a serosanguineous exudate.Internal Gangrene. In hernia" >strangulated hernia, a loop of intestine is caught in the bulge and its blood supply is cut off; gangrene may occur in that section of tissue. In acute appendicitis, areas of gangrene may occur in the walls of the appendix with consequent rupture through a gangrenous area. In severe cases of cholecystitis, which is usually associated with gallstones, gangrene may develop where the stones compress the mucous membrane. Thrombosis of the mesenteric artery may result in gangrene. Gangrene can be a rare complication of lung abscess in pneumonia; a symptom is brown sputum with a foul smell. Prevention. To prevent gangrene in an open wound, the wound should be kept as clean as possible. Special wound care is particularly important in patients with diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, and immunodeficiency. frostbite is especially dangerous, for the freezing impedes circulation, skin becomes tender and easily broken, and underlying cells are destroyed.Fournier's gangrene an acute gangrenous infection of the scrotum, penis, or perineum following local trauma, operative procedures, an underlying urinary tract disease, or a distant acute inflammatory process. Called also Fournier's disease.gas gangrene a condition often resulting from dirty, lacerated wounds in which the muscles and subcutaneous tissue become filled with gas and a serosanguineous exudate. It is due to species of Clostridium that break down tissue by gas production and by toxins.

gas gan·grene

gangrene occurring in a wound infected with various anaerobic spore-forming bacteria, especially Clostridium perfringens and C. novyi, which cause rapidly advancing crepitation of the surrounding tissues, due to gas liberated by bacterial fermentation, and constitutional toxic and septic symptoms including cytotoxic damage to kidney, liver, and other organs. Synonym(s): clostridial myonecrosis, emphysematous gangrene, gangrenous emphysema, progressive emphysematous necrosis

gas gangrene

n. Gangrene occurring in a wound infected with anaerobic bacteria of the genus Clostridium, especially C. perfringens, characterized by the presence of gas in the affected tissue and rapid progression that can lead to shock and death if untreated.

gangrene

Pathology Tissue death, often due to loss of adequate blood supply, which is most common in the distal lower extremities or internal organs–eg, the large intestine; the gangrene type is a function of the environment or host Gangrene types Dry gangrene A condition caused by chronic occlusion that slowly progresses to severe tissue atrophy and mummification, often associated with peripheral vascular disease, eg DM, atherosclerosis Gas gangrene A condition most common in open or dirty wounds infected by gas-producing gram-positive anaerobes, eg Clostridium perfringens, C histolytica, C septicum, C novyi, and C fallax which release histolytic enzymes, eg collagenase, fibrinolysin, hyaluronidase, and lecithinase Wet gangrene A condition caused by relatively acute vascular occlusion, eg burns, freezing, crush injuries, and thromboembolism, resulting in liquefactive necrosis, causing bleb and bullae formation with violaceous discoloration

gas gan·grene

(gas gang'grēn) Gangrene occurring in a wound that is infected with various anaerobic spore-forming bacteria, especially Clostridium perfringens and C. novyi, which cause crepitation of the surrounding tissues, due to gas liberated by bacterial fermentation, and constitutional septic symptoms.

gas gangrene

The effect of deep muscle infection with the dangerous anaerobic, gas-producing organism Clostridium welchii or Clostridium oedematiens . There is extensive tissue death, gas production and severe general upset. Energetic surgery may be necessary to preserve life.

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Synonyms for gas gangrene

noun (pathology) a deadly form of gangrene usually caused by clostridium bacteria that produce toxins that cause tissue death

Synonyms

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