Treatment, outcome and quality of life after Fournier's gangrene: a multicentre study. (December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Czymek, R.; Kujath, P.; Bruch, H.‐P.; Pfeiffer, D.; Nebrig, M.; Seehofer, D.; Guckelberger, O.
• Is Part Of: Colorectal disease. Volume 15:Number 12(2013)
• Page Start: 1529
• Page End: 1536
• Publication Date: 2013-12
• Subjects: Colon (Anatomy) -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Rectum -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.34
• DOI: 10.1111/codi.12396
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-8910

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="codi12396-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="codi12396-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>The object of this study was to describe the course of Fournier's gangrene and assess quality of life in a group of affected patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="codi12396-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>We evaluated patients who received inpatient treatment for Fournier's gangrene at five hospitals in northern Germany from 1995 to 2010. Surviving patients were asked to take part in a clinical follow‐up and complete the Short‐Form 36 (SF‐36) quality‐of‐life questionnaire and a disease‐specific questionnaire including a physical examination.</p> </sec> <sec id="codi12396-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Of the 86 patients, 72 (83.7%) were men. The mean age of the patients was 57.9 ± 13.9 (25–89) years. The mean length of hospital stay was 52.0 ± 54.0 (1–329) days. Fourteen (16.3%) patients (eight men) died primarily from Fournier's gangrene. The most common aetiological event was anogenital abscess formation (<italic>n </italic>=<italic> </italic>24; 27.9%). Seventy‐one (82.5%) patients had a mixed polymicrobial infection. SF‐36 physical role functioning (<italic>P </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.010), physical functioning (<italic>P </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.008), general health (<italic>P </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.010) and physical health summary (<italic>P </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.006) scores were significantly lower than those of the normal population. Deterioration in sexual function was reported by 65% of the patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="codi12396-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Patients with Fournier's gangrene experience persistent physical and mental health problems for a long period of time following their primary hospital stay and must receive long‐term care from a variety of specialists, otherwise the disease leads to an increase in the duration of morbidity and a decrease in quality of life.</p> </sec> </abstract>