Gangrene
It is macroscopic death of tissue in situ with or without putrefaction.
| Feature | Dry gangrene | Wet gangrene |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Dry, shriveled, mummified | Edematous, putrified and discoloured |
| Cause | Occurs due to slow and gradual loss of blood supply | Occurs due to sudden loss of blood supply |
| Infection | Infection not present | Infection present (offensive odor) |
| Symptoms | Cold temp., dull aching pain Skin changes colour to dark brown → dark purplish → completely dark | Offensive odor Swollen, red and warm |
| Demarcation | Clear line of demarcation is present | Vague/ No line of demarcation |
| Extension | No proximal extension | Proximal extension |
| Amputation | Limited amputation | High amputation |
Gangrene typically refers to necrosis with putrefaction of tissue, the tissue will characteristically appear black.
There is Two types: wet and dry types.
- In “wet type”, the process is complicated by cellular destruction by bacterial enzymes.
- In “dry type”, cellular structure is maintained. It can be progress from (dry) to (wet). Best exemplified in peripheral vascular disease where an initial patch of dry gangrene progresses to wet gangrene as a result of super-added infection.
Black discoloration involving distal medially foor represent gang, no obvious discharge, foot is edematous, edematous, no hair, muscle wasting…