Overview

What is Gangrene?

Gangrene is an extreme and sometimes fatal medical condition. It is when the blood flow into a tissue has been stopped. The tissue then rots and then dies due to this. The skin involved in Gangrene will generally turn greenish-black in hue. The term "gangrene" is the word that describes the actual condition, not the word green. The terms describing a chewing sore or decomposing tissue are from Greek and Latin.

There are different types of Gangrene. Among them, the following are listed:

Dry Gangrene: Dry Gangrene develops when tissue is denied blood flow. The area shrinks, becomes dry, and turns black.
Wet Gangrene: The chances of this tissue being infected with bacteria are high, which leads to wet Gangrene. There is swelling, fluid loss, and an unpleasant odor.
Gas gangrene: If the germs penetrate the deep muscular tissue, gas gangrene develops. There may be a blister on the skin and a cracking sound, which is due to the formation of gas bubbles in the muscular tissue.
Fournier's Gangrene refers to sloughing tissue in the vaginal region that is painful, red, and rapidly progressive due to a bacterial infection from trauma, surgery, or urinary tract disease.

What are the symptoms of Gangrene?

The symptoms of Gangrene depend upon the location and origin of this medical condition. Usually, a red border around the affected area marks the first symptom of dry Gangrene. Subsequently, this area turns dry and blackish.

The following are other symptoms of Gangrene:

Numbness and chillness in the painful region
A sensation of pain in the diseased area or elsewhere
Swelling and redness around the wound. This condition is often evidenced by wet Gangrene.
Open sores that repeatedly appear at the same place
Persistent, unexplained fever greater than or equal to 100.4°F (38°C) temperature
Dirty, festering wound
An area of striking skin change may be blue, red, greenish-black, or bronze in color.
Pus or discharge from a wound
Blisters, with the sensation of crackling under the skin
Weakness, diarrhea, and muscle aches and sometimes loss of appetite
Altered level of consciousness, pain, fever, hypotension especially when the associated Gangrene spreads within your body
Shock

The earlier Gangrene is treated, the more likely it is to be cured. So, if you experience any of the symptoms above, seek care immediately.

What causes Gangrene?

As a result of the tissue's deprivation of its blood supply, Gangrene sets in. This can happen due to:

Infection
An injury such as a burn, infected dog bite, or a combat wound
Severe frostbite cases
A chronic disease that impacts the circulatory system, such as diabetes, peripheral artery disease, or Raynaud disease, can develop gangrene if it worsens and is left untreated.
Some drugs

Who is at risk for Gangrene?

Any of the following may be among the higher risks to develop Gangrene:

Ongoing medical conditions, including diabetes, Raynaud disease, and peripheral artery disease

Skin infection
Damage
Burns
Dog attack
Cuts and bruises
Long-term tobacco product use
Need for some high blood pressure medications to be administered on admission to the hospital

How is Gangrene diagnosed?

If your doctor suspects you have Gangrene, they will examine you physically. They are going to look for evidence of tissue death. Inquiries concerning any long-term medical conditions you may have that might be connected to the Gangrene may also be made.

In order to determine the Gangrene's source and any problems, your healthcare physician might also wish to do blood work. An infection may be indicated by white blood cell counts that are greater than usual. Your doctor may draw blood, tissue, or fluid samples from the afflicted area for laboratory analysis. Your doctor may prescribe imaging tests or surgery to rule out internal Gangrene if they suspect you have it.

How is Gangrene treated?

Your signs, age and overall state of health will all play a role in determining the nature of treatment you will receive. Moreover, it would depend on the type of scenario.

In most cases, one or more of the following interventions are performed to treat Gangrene:

Antibiotics: These medications can remove microorganisms from the afflicted area. They are only used for wet Gangrene.
Debridement is a surgical treatment where dead tissues are removed from particular parts of the body to stop Gangrene and infections at bay. In some severe cases, Gangrene in the foot, toes, or fingers may require amputation when the Gangrene is more widespread.
Vascular surgery: Doctors can advise patients suffering from Gangrene due to blocked arteries by performing angioplasty or bypass surgery to restore blood flow.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: In this treatment, high-pressure oxygen is delivered through a pressurized chamber.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: This treatment involves delivering oxygen at high pressure inside a chamber to the infected area, which accelerates healing and helps remove bacteria. It is particularly beneficial in gangrene patients with diabetic foot ulcers.
Maggot debridement: It is a non-surgical treatment in which clean fly larvae are applied on the affected area, which feeds off dead tissue and bacteria, thus being painless.

What are possible complications of Gangrene?

An entire portion of the body can very easily become full of Gangrene. Therefore, there can be a huge amount of dead tissue at times. The treatment of such large areas may lead to the following:

Severe scarring
Requisite plastic surgery
Amputation

Organ failure, death, and infection spreading throughout the body can be caused by severe Gangrene.

What can I do to prevent Gangrene?

You can avoid Gangrene by closely monitoring your wound cases for signs of infection, which will naturally cause you to seek medical treatment promptly. If you are diagnosed with diabetes or other conditions predisposing you to weak or faulty blood circulation, heed what your healthcare practitioner says concerning managing your condition.

When should I call my doctor?

This condition sometimes presents a fatal threat, so you are better off looking for immediate medical attention. As with the spread or dimensions of the affected area and any other co-morbid condition that you may be suffering from, the prognosis varies in wet Gangrene.

Dry Gangrene usually does not worsen or lead to complications. However, it can evolve into wet Gangrene. For any type, you should consult your doctor.

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Gangrene Treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Hospital, owned by doctors, is renowned for attracting the most skilled professionals in the country. With the finest vascular surgeons specialized in Gangrene Treatment in Lucknow. Tender Palm stands out as one of the best hospitals for gangrene treatment in Lucknow, India. Boasting cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced technology, Tender Palm ensures top-notch medical care for its gangrene patients.