Gangrene

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Gangrene

Symptoms:

The symptoms depend on the location and cause of the gangrene. If the affected area involves the skin or is close to the skin, the symptoms may include:

Discoloration (blue or black if skin is affected; red or bronze if the affected area is beneath the skin)
Loss of sensation (which may occur after severe pain in the area)
Foul-smelling discharge

If the affected area is internal (such as gangrene of the gallbladder or gas gangrene), the symptoms may include:

Persistent or severe pain
Fever
Gas in tissues beneath the skin
General ill feeling
Septic shock

Signs and tests:

The doctor may diagnose gangrene from a physical examination. In addition, the following tests and procedures may be performed to diagnose gangrene:

Blood tests -- a CBC may show a high white blood cell (WBC) count
X-rays
CT scan for internal conditions, such as abdominal pain
Surgical exploration to confirm (and treat) gangrene
Microscopic examination of tissue to look for cell death
Tissue or fluid culture from wounds to identify bacterial infection
An arteriogram to help plan treatment for vascular disease

Review Date: 8/10/2004
Reviewed By: Updates to specific sections made by Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Grace Jeon, M.D., M.P.H., General Surgeon, Pasadena, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (11-22-2003).

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