About this topic
Gangrene happens when the normal supply of blood to a body part is cut off. This causes the tissue to die. This may happen because of an infection or injury. People with diabetes or those who are more likely to get an infection may be at higher risk to get gangrene. Your skin may change color and feel cold. It may feel hard and dry. Your skin may swell and be very painful. You may have blisters on your skin or it may feel numb. You may feel sick like you have the flu. ‚
Your doctor may give you drugs to fight an infection. Sometimes, the dead tissue is cut away. Other times, the part with gangrene must be removed. This happens most often if the illness affects a finger, toe, or foot. Sometimes, organs inside the body, such as the intestine, can get gangrene. Your doctor may give you drugs to help treat your gangrene. Without treatment, a person may die. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take your drugs as ordered by your doctor.
- If you had surgery, talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
- If you had surgery on your foot, you may need to wear a special shoe to protect your foot until the stitches are taken out. You may also have to keep weight off your foot while you are healing.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
- Your doctor may send you to a physical therapist. You may need a prosthesis if you had surgery to remove a body part. You may need to learn how to walk with crutches or a walker.
- If you have an amputation, your doctor may send you to rehab before you are able to go home. This will help you to get stronger and learn to get around safely.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Fight an infection
- Give extra oxygen
Will physical activity be limited?
You may need to limit your activity for a while based on where your problem is. Talk with your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Removal of a body part. This is called an amputation.
- Infection moving into your blood. This is called sepsis.
- Spreads to other organs
- Scarring
- Disability
- Low mood
- Death if not treated
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- If you have diabetes, keep blood sugar under control. Take good care of your feet. Watch for sores and signs of infection. If you are not able to see the bottom of your feet easily, use a mirror or have another person check your feet every day.
- Avoid getting an infection. Keep wounds and cuts clean and dry.
- Avoid exposing your skin to long periods in cold weather. This will keep you from getting frostbite.
- If you are a smoker, stop smoking. This can lower your blood supply to an area and put you more at risk.
- If you are too heavy, lose weight. This can lower your risk for diabetes.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Wound on the foot or other body part that does not heal
- Numbness or hard area on a finger or toe
- Skin changes color
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site, if I have one.
- I can tell you ways to help prevent this infection.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, wounds that do not heal, numb area on my fingers or toes, or my skin changes color.
Where can I learn more?
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gangrene/pages/introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚