The Clinical Study of the Treatment of Gas Gangrence

Kim, Yung Tae; Yoon, Hyung Ku; Seo, Jai Gon; Rhee, Duk Chang

Abstract

Gas gangrene is a potentially lethal dissease, but fortunately uncommon. Profound toxicity and rapid progression are characteristic of this disease. Therefore the success of the treatment in this disease is largely depended on early diagnosis and treatment. The treatment includes debridement and decompression, amputation if ncessary, adequate entibiotic therapy, administration of antitoxin, hyperbarit oxygen therapy and general supportive therapy. The authors have reviewed 9 cases of gas gangrence, which were identified by bacteriologically out of 14 cases of suspicious gas gangrene. All cases were treated in our department from 1981 to 1985. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The culture studies of clostridium were specified in 5 cases of Cl. perfringens, 2 cases of Cl. septicum, 1 case of Cl. bifermentans and 1 case of Cl. sporogenes. 2. All 9 patients underwent debridement, antibiotic therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and general supportive therapy. We had not used gas gangrene anti-toxin, beceuse of the value of antitoxin is uncertain and subjects the patient of the danger of hypersensitivity reactions. 3. In 7 patients involving only the extremities, amputations were inveitable on 3 patients due to irreversible gangrenous changes on the involved extremities. And one of them died due to septic shock. 4. In 2 patients involving the trunk, one of them died due to renal failure.