User:Mr. Ibrahem/Gangrene

For other uses, see User:Mr. Ibrahem/Gangrene (disambiguation).

Gangrene
Other names	Gangrenous necrosis
Dry gangrene affecting the toes as a result of peripheral artery disease
Specialty	Infectious disease, surgery
Symptoms	Change in skin color to red or black, numbness, pain, skin breakdown, coolness
Complications	Sepsis, amputation
Types	Dry, wet, gas, internal, necrotizing fasciitis
Risk factors	Diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, smoking, major trauma, alcoholism, HIV/AIDS, frostbite, Raynaud's syndrome
Treatment	Surgery, antibiotics
Frequency	Unknown

Gangrene is a type of tissue death caused by a lack of blood supply. Symptoms may include a change in skin color to red or black, numbness, swelling, pain, skin breakdown, and coolness. The feet and hands are most commonly affected. Certain types may present with a fever or sepsis.

Risk factors include diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, smoking, major trauma, alcoholism, HIV/AIDS, frostbite, and Raynaud's syndrome. It can be classified as dry gangrene, wet gangrene, gas gangrene, internal gangrene, and necrotizing fasciitis. The diagnosis of gangrene is based on symptoms and supported by tests such as medical imaging.

Treatment may involve surgery to remove the dead tissue, antibiotics to treat any infection, and efforts to address the underlying cause. Surgical efforts may include debridement, amputation, or the use of maggot therapy. Efforts to treat the underlying cause may include bypass surgery or angioplasty. In certain cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be useful. How commonly the condition occurs is unknown.