Prognostic Factors for Fournier's Gangrene; A 10-year Experience in Southeastern Iran

To describe the characteristics and prognostic factors of 28 patients with Fournier's Gangrene (FG) referred to our medical center at Southeastern Iran.

This was a cross-sectional study including 28 cases of FG that were operated in Surgery department of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences during a 10-year period from April 2002 to March 2012. The study analyzed 9 parameters including the body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, hematocrit, white blood count (WBC), and serum levels of sodium, potassium, creatininee (twice for 2 for acute renal failure), and bicarbonate for Fournier Gangrene Severity Index (FGSI) score. The aspects taken into account were age, gender, predisposing factors, duration of symptoms, hospitalization period, and number of debridements, disease outcome and the FGSI.

All patients were males, aged from 26 to 68 years, with mean age 44.6 ±8.49 years. Statistically significant differences in age (p<0.001), duration of symptoms (p=0.001), number of debridements (p=0.006), hospitalization duration (p<0.001) and FGSI (p<0.001) were found between surviving and dead patients. The mortality rate was 35.7%, and the most common presentation was perianal/scrotal pain (78.6%). Perianal and primary scrotal abscesses were most common causes of FG and were found in 57.14% and 21.42% of patients respectively. The most prevalent predisposing factor was diabetes mellitus in 12 (42.85%) patients. With respect to laboratory findings, statistically significant differences in WBC (p=0.002), creatinine (p<0.001), albumin (p<0.001), calcium (p<0.001) and serum sodium (p=0.035) were found between the surviving and dead patients.

Serious outcome of FG was associated with old age, delayed diagnosis and treatment, inadequate surgical debridement, shorter hospitalization and higher FGSI scores. In addition higher WBC, higher creatininee and serum sodium and lower albumin and calcium levels implicated worse prognosis.