What is gangrene? What are the symptoms and treatment?

What is gangrene? What are the symptoms and treatment?
Gangrene can be briefly defined as tissue death resulting from blood flow disorders. Since the skin is predominantly affected, it can be easily seen from the outside with the naked eye. It can occur in two different forms: dry or wet gangrene. The type called wet gangrene can also present itself as a draining leg ulcer.

Gangrene is a word of Greek origin and is a loss characterized by softening, shrinkage, drying and darkening of the tissue caused by insufficient blood supply or mechanical or thermal damage. This loss can be seen in almost all organs. The most common tissues and organs are the leg, arm, appendix and small intestine. It is often incorrectly called gangrene among the public.

Gangrene can be briefly defined as tissue death resulting from blood flow disorders. Since the skin is predominantly affected, it can be easily seen from the outside with the naked eye. It can occur in two different forms: dry or wet gangrene. The type called wet gangrene can also present itself as a draining leg ulcer.

What are the causes of gangrene?

The eventual tissue death that results in gangrene is caused by inadequate blood flow, especially to the areas where the event develops. This means that it is not possible for the skin and other tissues to be supplied with oxygen and nutrients.

Disorder in blood circulation; It occurs as a result of blockage in blood vessels, injury, and bacterial infections. Clogging of the vessels as a result of swelling in some organs, thus obstructing blood flow, also causes gangrene.

Some diseases and conditions such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, alcohol addiction, some tumors, peripheral vascular disease and HIV can also lead to gangrene. Drug use, smoking and an unhealthy lifestyle also predispose to the development of gangrene.

Gangrene may occur as a side effect of chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments administered for cancer. A diet very poor in protein and vitamins can be considered as another reason.

What are the symptoms of cancer?

It initially manifests itself with redness, swelling and inflammation on the skin. There is often a foul-smelling discharge due to inflammation. These symptoms are usually accompanied by severe pain, foreign body sensation and loss of sensation in the skin area.

Wet gangrene can be described as a black boil surrounded by thin, fragile skin. If this type is left untreated, severe pain, weakness and fever occur in the affected area. Untreated wet gangrene can result in sepsis, popularly known as blood poisoning.

When dry gangrene develops, hairy areas appear on the feet. The epidermis is often covered by a callus that feels cold and hard to the touch. In the final stage of the disease, the skin turns a dark color and eventually dies. The intensity of the initial pain is relieved and the affected area becomes paralyzed and cold.

Possible signs of gangrene in the feet are cold and discolored feet, sores caused by dead cellular areas on the toes, and ulcers on the skin with discharge. Wet gangrene can cause inflammation and itching; in dry gangrene, itching is usually more severe.

How is gangrene diagnosed?

The diagnosis of gangrene is made based on the patients complaints, examination of the affected area, angiography and Doppler examination of the blood vessels.

How is gangrene treated?

Gangrene treatment is applied by first treating the cause. These include practices such as adjusting blood sugar levels, achieving normal blood lipid levels and body weight, and treating any infection. Smoking and alcohol consumption are prohibited. If blood pressure is high, it should be treated and kept at a healthy level.

Gangrene or diabetic foot should only be treated by medical personnel trained in this field. In addition to treatment for the cause, dead tissue pieces are surgically removed. In advanced cases, the toes, foot, or entire lower leg may need to be amputated.