Korean J Anesthesiol.  2008 Jan;54(1):113-116. 10.4097/kjae.2008.54.1.113.

Spontaneous, Fulminant Gas Gangrene Caused by Klebsiella Pneumoniae: An Unrecognized Small Air Bubbles in the Left Femoral, External and Common Iliac Vein, and Inferior Vena Cava: A case report

• Yeom JH
• Son SI
• Min HK
• Shim JH
• Cho SY
• Shin WJ
• Kim KH
• Jeon WJ

• KMID: 2236584
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2008.54.1.113

Abstract

Fulminant gas gangrene is a rare condition, usually associated with contaminated traumatic injuries. It carries a high rate of mortality and morbidity. Also, a number of studies have implicated non-traumatic gas gangrene, associated mostly with underlying diseases that cause immunodeficiency. We report a non-traumatic fatal case of Klebsiella pneumoniae gas gangrene with small air bubbles in the left external and common iliac vein, and inferior vena cava in a previously healthy male. We would like to recommend you do not use nitrous oxide in case of gas gangrene, because it can aggravate pulmonary air embolism.

Keyword

air bubbles; fulminant gas gangrene; klebsiella pneumoniae

MeSH Terms

Embolism, Air
Gas Gangrene
Humans
Iliac Vein
Klebsiella
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Male
Nitrous Oxide
Vena Cava, Inferior
Nitrous Oxide