Incorporating Simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index with early surgical intervention can maximize survival in high-risk Fournier's gangrene patients

Fournier's gangrene: a review of predictive scoring systems and practical guide for patient management

This article aims to provide a practical guide for patient management and an overview of the predictive scorings for Fournier's gangrene (FG) that are available to aid clinicians. A literature was performed reviewing currently used scoring systems for FG and presenting a practical guide for its management based on the available evidence. There are four specific scoring systems available for the assessment of FG although few other non-specific and generic tools also exist. These specific tools include Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis, Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index, Uludag Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index, and Simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index and help calculate expected mortality. Our proposed algorithm covers primary assessment, resuscitative interventions, initial investigations, urgent care, post-operative care, and long-term follow-up. The management of the FG patient can be divided into initial resuscitation, surgical debridement, ongoing ward management with antibiotic therapy, wound reconstruction, and long-term follow-up. Each facet of care is vital and requires multidisciplinary team expertise for optimal outcomes. Whilst mortality continues to improve, it remains significant, reflecting the severe and life-threatening nature of FG. More research is certainly needed into how this care is individualised, and to ensure that long-term outcomes in FG include quality of life measures after discharge.

[Outcome, quality of life and functional assessment after perineal and external genitalia gangrene]

INTRODUCTION

External genitalia gangrene is a well-known uncommon disease; however, mortality remains important. Recent literature focuses on early management. The object of this study was to assess quality of life and disease-specific function, in the medium- and long-term.

METHOD

We evaluated retrospectively adult inpatients with external genitalia gangrene who had a surgical debridement between 2010 and 2020 at CHU de Poitiers. Preoperatory FGSI Score was calculated for patients included. In a second phase, surviving patients at 2020 who had agreed to take part in the follow-up were assessed by clinical examination, and asked to complete Short-Form 36 test and two additional disease-specific questionnaire (USP, IIEF5).

RESULTS

The patients consisted of 33 men. Mean age was 61.18. Eleven patients (33%) died primarily from external genitalia gangrene. Median FGSI score was 6 (1-13). We were able to reach 11 patients (33%) for secondary clinical revaluation. Time before revaluation was 3months to 8years. All parts of SF-36 were significantly low. Mean USP score was 1.27±2.68/4.54±4.43/0.72±1.84. Nine patients (81%) suffered erectile dysfunction without any sexual intercourse possible.

CONCLUSION

Patients with external genitalia gangrene experience severe deterioration of their quality of life. Multidisciplinary healthcare process should systematically be carried out, as so as early screening of vulnerability risks factors, to improve functional outcomes and quality of life.

The sufficient multidisciplinary specialists under a government-led health care system associated with the downward mortality trend of Fournier's gangrene in Taiwan

OBJECTIVES

To explore the trends in Fournier's gangrene (FG) incidence and mortality rate in Taiwan and to investigate the contributing factors to such changes.

METHODS

Between 2002 and 2016, hospitalized FG patients who underwent subsequent surgical intervention were included in this retrospective study. Incidence, outcomes, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (ACCI), hospitalization cost, surgical timing, and the number of multidisciplinary specialists involved in the first-line management of FG in each year were collected. Simple linear regression and Pearson correlation coefficient (r) were used for the subsequent analysis.

RESULTS

The national cohort enrolled 2183 FG patients from 2002 to 2016 in Taiwan. The age-standardized incidence rate of FG was between 0.4 and 0.8 per 100 000 population, and overall mortality was 7.8% in these 15 years. We illustrated the downward trendline of FG mortality with a 0.62 coefficient of determination. The mortality of FG patients who underwent surgery within 24 h and after 24 h were found to be 8.3 ± 3.9% and 14.6 ± 25.2%, respectively (p = 0.02). The numbers of urologists, anesthesiologists, emergency doctors, and physicians per 100 000 population had a strong negative linear correlation with FG mortality (r = 0.8, p < 0.001). ACCI score had a moderate linear relationship with FG mortality (r = 0.57, p = 0.027). The hospitalization cost showed a weak linear correlation with FG mortality (r = -0.03, p = 0.92).

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated the downward trend of the FG mortality rate in Taiwan from 2002 to 2016. Besides underlying comorbidities and surgical timing, sufficient multidisciplinary specialists are essential for the survival benefit of FG patients in Taiwan experience.

Global outcomes and lessons learned in the management of Fournier's gangrene from high-volume centres: findings from a literature review over the last two decades

INTRODUCTION

Fournier's Gangrene (FG) carries a high mortality and morbidity with underreported short and long-term outcomes. Our aim was to perform a review of the recent literature to evaluate the short and long-term outcomes in patients with FG in the acute setting from large-scale studies.

METHODS

A PubMed search was performed between January 2000 and December 2021 for studies reporting on patients with FG. Exclusion criteria included small samples (n < 100), review articles and animal studies. Primary outcomes of interest were mortality, number of operative episodes for surgical debridement and admission to intensive care unit (ICU). Other outcomes assessed included rate of faecal and urinary diversion, orchidectomy rate, penectomy rate and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

From a total of 1182 studies, 18 were eligible for inclusion and included in this review. In total, data were analysed from 13,903 FG patients. Mean inpatient mortality rate was 7.3% (range 4.7-40.4%). Mean number of surgical debridement operations performed was 1.8 (range 1.5-4.2). On average, 6.8% (range 3.6-50.5%) and 7% (range 1.2-53.2%) underwent faecal and urinary diversions, respectively. Mean rate of orchidectomy was 5.6%, with rate of penectomy being lower at 0.2%. The mean length of hospital stay was 18.5 days (range 13.0-26.6). On average, 17.5% (range 10.1%-67.5%) required ICU admission for at least a single-system support.

CONCLUSION

Our review from the past twenty years of literature suggests that the mortality for FG, whilst still high, has fallen compared to previous years. Whilst inpatient metrics are well-covered in the literature there is a lack of large-scale studies detailing long-term patient outcomes.

Conceptos para la identificación y abordaje de la gangrena de Fournier

Introducción. La gangrena de Fournier es una fasciitis necrosante fulminante y progresiva, de origen infeccioso sinérgico polimicrobiano, que afecta las regiones perianal, perineal, genital y abdominal. Su incidencia es mayor en hombres, la edad promedio de presentación reportada está en los 54,7 ± 15,6 años, su mortalidad es del 3-67 %, aunque hay estudios que informan una mortalidad en hombres del 7,5 % y en las mujeres del 12,8 %. Métodos. Se hizo una revisión de la literatura en las bases de datos y fuentes de información PubMed, Scielo y Google Scholar, publicados entre 1950 y 2018, utilizando términos como "fournier gangrene", "fasciitis, necrotizing”, “wound infection”, "therapy"[subheading] y “GRADE approach". Se realizó una segunda revisión para artículos latinoamericanos en español hasta 2020 usando las mismas fuentes y palabras claves. Resultados. Se seleccionaron artículos que reportaron definiciones, datos históricos, actualizaciones en diagnóstico y terapéutica para hacer una revisión actualizada. Para el uso de las imágenes se solicitó consentimiento informado. Conclusión. La gangrena de Fournier continúa siendo una emergencia quirúrgica potencialmente letal. Gracias a las investigaciones realizadas se ha avanzado en su tratamiento, mejorando los resultados. Es importante analizar los factores de riesgo en cada paciente y su etiología para establecer el tratamiento más adecuado.

Fournier’s Gangrene: A Coexistence or Consanguinity of SGLT-2 Inhibitor Therapy

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors) are a relatively new class of medications used for the management of type II diabetes mellitus targeting the kidneys. Within the last decade, several warnings have been issued regarding the development of severe genitourinary infections, including necrotizing fasciitis, or Fournier’s gangrene, in those with pre-existing type II diabetes and concomitant use of this drug class.

Objective: The purpose of this review is to highlight and discuss the factors contributing to the development of Fournier’s gangrene, its pathogenesis, and a review of existing literature describing patient outcomes, treatment, and future directions regarding early detection of this complication.

Methods: Articles and studies addressing effective treatment adherence and key factors contributing to Fournier’s gangrene with SGLT2 inhibitors were identified by effective keyword searches in PubMed Central, Google Scholar, and Cochrane, as well as the references found within these articles.

Results: Using the keywords provided, 55 case reports, review articles, and meta-analysis reports written within the last 20 years were utilized as the source of the data presented in this systematic review article.

Which Role for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the Treatment of Fournier's Gangrene? A Retrospective Study

Purpose

In Fournier's gangrene, surgical debridement plus antimicrobial therapy is the mainstay of treatment but can cause a great loss of tissue. The disease needs long hospital stays and, despite all, has a high mortality rate. The aim of our study is to investigate if factors, such as hyperbaric therapy, can offer an improvement in prognosis.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated data on 23 consecutive patients admitted for Fournier's gangrene at the University Hospital “P. Giaccone” of Palermo from 2011 to 2018. Factors related to length of hospital stay and mortality were examined.

Results

Mortality occurred in three patients (13.1%) and was correlated with the delay between admission and surgical operation [1.7 days (C.I. 0.9–3.5) in patients who survived vs. 6.8 days (C.I. 3.5–13.4) in patients who died (p = 0.001)]. Hospital stay was longer in patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy [mean 11 (C.I. 0.50–21.89) vs. mean 25 (C.I. 18.02–31.97); p = 0.02] without an improvement in survival (p = 1.00).

Conclusion

Our study proves that a delay in the treatment of patients with Fournier's gangrene has a correlation with the mortality rate, while the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy seems to not improve the survival rate, increasing the hospital stay instead.

Fournier's Gangrene Diagnosis and Treatment: A Systematic Review

Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a perineal and abdominal necrotizing infection. It is most commonly found in middle-aged men with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus. Initial symptoms are often indistinct and can rapidly progress to overwhelming infections with a relatively high mortality rate. It is crucial to make a prompt diagnosis so that the patient receives appropriate treatment. Given the importance of the identification of FG, we explored what were the most common signs and symptoms associated with FG, as well as distinguished the gold standard treatment. This systematic review utilized articles identified exclusively through PubMed using key terms such as Fournier's gangrene, signs, symptoms, and treatment. A total of 37 studies, including a total of 3,224 patients (3,093 males and 131 females), fit our inclusion parameters for relevance that included either the most identifiable presentation of FG or the most effective treatment. From our search, the most common clinical presentation was scrotal and labial pain, fever, abscesses, crepitus, erythema, and cellulitis. Diagnosis is made from clinical findings in conjunction with imaging. The gold standard for treatment was found to be a combination of surgical debridement, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and the administration of intravenous fluids. Further, patient survival was found to be directly related to the time from diagnosis to treatment when they underwent surgical debridement. The importance of early identification for improved outcomes or survival highlights the need for further studies or measures to enhance the identification of the signs and symptoms of FG.

Anorectal emergencies: WSES-AAST guidelines

Anorectal emergencies comprise a wide variety of diseases that share common symptoms, i.e., anorectal pain or bleeding and might require immediate management. While most of the underlying conditions do not need inpatient management, some of them could be life-threatening and need prompt recognition and treatment. It is well known that an incorrect diagnosis is frequent for anorectal diseases and that a delayed diagnosis is related to an impaired outcome. This paper aims to improve the knowledge and the awareness on this specific topic and to provide a useful tool for every physician dealing with anorectal emergencies.The present guidelines have been developed according to the GRADE methodology. To create these guidelines, a panel of experts was designed and charged by the boards of the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) and American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) to perform a systematic review of the available literature and to provide evidence-based statements with immediate practical application. All the statements were presented and discussed during the WSES-AAST-WJES Consensus Conference on Anorectal Emergencies, and for each statement, a consensus among the WSES-AAST panel of experts was reached. We structured our work into seven main topics to cover the entire management of patients with anorectal emergencies and to provide an up-to-date, easy-to-use tool that can help physicians and surgeons during the decision-making process.

Location of residence and mortality for patients diagnosed with Fournier's gangrene

INTRODUCTION

Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a necrotizing infection of the genitalia. Time from to surgical intervention is a critical determinant of prognosis. We sought to investigate whether patients from rural locations have worse clinical outcomes given distance from a tertiary center.

METHODS

The Manitoba Intensive Care Unit (ICU) registry includes patients who have been admitted into ICUs across Manitoba. We identified patients admitted with FG from February 1999 to October 2019. Age, gender, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), presence of colostomy and scrotal debridement, length of stay (LOS), and mortality outcomes were obtained. Patients were categorized as being rural or urban.

RESULTS

From 1999-2019, a total of 79 patients were admitted with FG. The median age was 60 years [interquartile range [IQR] 48-67). The mortality rate during hospitalization was 16.5%. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of deaths for patients from urban vs. rural dwellings (9/47 [19.1%] vs. 4/32 [12.5%], p=0.434]. A comparison of the 66 (83.5%) patients that survived and the 13 (16.5%) that died during ICU hospitalization demonstrated no difference in age, gender, CCI, presence of colostomy, and rates of scrotal re-debridement (p>0.05). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that living in a rural area was not associated with increased mortality (odds ratio 0.64, 95% confidence interval 00.16-2.57, p=0.527).

CONCLUSIONS

Location of residence was not predictive of death from FG. In addition, baseline characteristics such as age, gender, CCI, surgical interventions, or LOS were not found to be associated with mortality.

Fournier's Gangrene and Intravenous Drug Abuse: an Unusual Case Report and Review of The Literature

Fournier's gangrene is a potentially fatal emergency condition characterized by necrotizing fasciitis and supported by an infection of the external genital, perineal and perianal region, with a rapid and progressive spread from subcutaneous fat tissue to fascial planes. In this case report, a 52-year-old man, with a history of hepatitis C-virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease and cocaine use disorder for which he was receiving methadone maintenance therapy, was admitted to the Emergency Department with necrotic tissue involving the external genitalia. Fournier's gangrene is usually due to compromised host immunity, without a precise cause of bacterial infection; here it is linked to a loco-regional intravenous injection of cocaine. A multimodal approach, including a wide surgical debridement and a postponed skin graft, was needed. Here we report this case, with a narrative review of the literature.