Premium
Treatment, outcome and quality of life after F ournier's gangrene: a multicentre study
Author(s) -
Czymek R.,
Kujath P.,
Bruch H.P.,
Pfeiffer D.,
Nebrig M.,
Seehofer D.,
Guckelberger O.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
colorectal disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.029
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1463-1318
pISSN - 1462-8910
DOI - 10.1111/codi.12396
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , outcome (game theory) , gangrene , surgery , nursing , mathematical economics , mathematics
Aim The object of this study was to describe the course of F ournier's gangrene and assess quality of life in a group of affected patients. Method We evaluated patients who received inpatient treatment for F ournier's gangrene at five hospitals in northern G ermany from 1995 to 2010. Surviving patients were asked to take part in a clinical follow‐up and complete the S hort‐ F orm 36 ( SF ‐36) quality‐of‐life questionnaire and a disease‐specific questionnaire including a physical examination. Results Of the 86 patients, 72 (83.7%) were men. The mean age of the patients was 57.9 ± 13.9 (25–89) years. The mean length of hospital stay was 52.0 ± 54.0 (1–329) days. Fourteen (16.3%) patients (eight men) died primarily from Fournier's gangrene. The most common aetiological event was anogenital abscess formation ( n = 24; 27.9%). Seventy‐one (82.5%) patients had a mixed polymicrobial infection. SF ‐36 physical role functioning ( P = 0.010), physical functioning ( P = 0.008), general health ( P = 0.010) and physical health summary ( P = 0.006) scores were significantly lower than those of the normal population. Deterioration in sexual function was reported by 65% of the patients. Conclusion Patients with F ournier's gangrene experience persistent physical and mental health problems for a long period of time following their primary hospital stay and must receive long‐term care from a variety of specialists, otherwise the disease leads to an increase in the duration of morbidity and a decrease in quality of life.