Fournier’s Gangrene: 13-Year Experience in a Tertiary Center, North Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background : Fournier’s gangrene is a fulminant infection of the genitourinary tract characterized by progressive necrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the external genitalia. Initially mainly seen involving the scrotum of elderly men with different moods of occurrence each unpleasantly lethal. With varying types of presentation only one thing has remained constant; the poor prognosis of this condition. Purpose/Aim : Thus, it’s important to study the trends of the presentation of this condition laying emphasis on the challenges in the management of these patients; both the negative and positive prognostic factors. Materials and Methods : Urology ward record books, clinic record books and operating theater records were used to identify patients managed for Fournier gangrene in ATBUTH Bauchi. A retrospective study of the medical files of all the patients managed from January 2011 to January 2024 was done. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 29. Results : Data from 47 patients seen during the period of study were carefully collected and analyzed. The age range is 2 weeks to 97 years. There were two neonates, one at 2 nd week of life and the other at 3 rd week. Mortality rate is 36%. The average time duration before presentation for patients that died was two weeks, a minimum of 9 days prior to presentation and a maximum of 21 days, about 10 of which came in septic shock and the remaining presented with fever and very extensive necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum. All the patients that died had diabetes mellitus as a comorbidity except the neonate. All the patients that survived were much younger, all were below 60 years of age (2 weeks - 53 years). Conclusion : Here, we share our experience managing patients with Fournier’s gangrene in our facility in the past 13-year period from January 2011 to January 2024.