Gangrene- Meaning, Symptoms, Types, Diagnosis and Treatment Meaning

Gangrene can result from either a severe bacterial infection or a direct loss of blood flow to the tissues. It can occur in the internal organs, but usually affects the extremities, such as the toes and fingers. These body parts typically have less blood circulation as they are the farthest from the heart. Gangrene syndrome can quickly lead to severe low blood pressure and organ failure. For this reason, it is crucial to treat gangrene quickly.

Causes and Symptoms of Gangrene

Blood flow to body parts can be interrupted for several reasons, and the tissues will die as a result. The absence of blood flow can result from untreated peripheral artery disease or diabetes, a direct traumatic injury such as car accidents or gunshots, severe bacterial disease, or poor circulation in general.

External gangrene has these symptoms, which can show you it has turned to this state:

• Affected areas of skin show these: A change to black, red, bronze, or blue.
• The area is swollen and has a bad odor and pus.
• The skin is smooth, shiny, and thin and lacks hair.
• There are blisters or ulcers that remain unchanged.
• The area has extreme pain, but it is followed by numbness.
• The area feels cold.

Internal gangrene affects organs like the intestines and gallbladder, and can also cause septic shock, presenting these symptoms: 

• Persistent high body temperature 
• Severe pain
• Low blood pressure, fast heart rate
• Feeling faint or confused
• Shortness of breath
• Different Forms of Gangrene

Dry Gangrene: This form slowly develops, is marked by dry, shrunken skin changing to brown, black, or purple-blue tissue and is more common in individuals suffering from diabetes and atherosclerosis.

Wet Gangrene: This form rapidly develops and is marked by bacterial infection in dead tissue, blisters, swelling, and a moist appearance, and is more common in diabetics after a foot or toe injury.

Gas Gangrene: This form is caused by Clostridium bacteria, which are deadly and cause gas and tissue and dead tissue to form quickly, which is also a fast, deadly form of this gangrene.

Answering the questions of the client to give the best information in a short, accurate form is important to communication in a positive way. The type of treatment you receive will be determined by the severity of the situation and may involve the following: 

• Antibiotic therapy, most of the time delivered intravenously 
• Debridement, or the surgical removal of dead tissue 
• Vascular surgery is performed to restore blood flow 
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for gas gangrene 
• Amputation in extreme cases to prevent the spread of infection    

With an early diagnosis and the right medical care, the complications and effects of gangrene can be prevented.