[Necrotizing dermohypodermitis of the abdominal wall in obesity. Two cases indicative of abdominopelvic deep...

Necrotizing dermohypodermitis of abdominal wall in obese is a rare disease with high mortality. We report two cases of 50 and 62years old patients whose intra-abdominal infectious pathology (appendicular abscess for one and pyosalpinx for the other) was revealed by a necrotizing dermohypodermitis of the abdominal wall. The diagnosis has been established on the basis of converging clinical arguments (abdominal pain, crackles and necrotic appearance of abdominal wall in a septic shock context), linked with a CT-scan. The treatment consisted of a large excision of the abdominal wall necrosis and surgical eradication of deep infection source, with an intensive care and a broad spectrum antibiotic therapy. Both these patients present morbid obesity (BMI>40) whose implication must be taken into consideration in the way the disease appears. Indeed, the necrotizing dermohypodermitis of abdominal wall in these patients must lead first in looking for a deep infection with few symptoms. It must be identified quickly to propose an early and multidisciplinary surgical treatment.