The main causes of dry gangrene and the principles of therapy

Gangrene is a disease that manifests itself in the processes of necrosis in tissues and organs. In modern medicine, this pathology is classified by the consistency and degree of change of affected tissues, and includes dry, moist and gas gangrene.

Dry gangrene is caused by a sudden cessation of blood flow to the tissues, which leads to its drying, wrinkling and certain compaction. Affected tissues are significantly reduced in volume, have a black-brown, and sometimes black color.

Causes and symptoms of this disease

The causes of the disease of any form are common( except for gas gangrene, the main etiological factor of which is anaerobic flora).Many people are interested in whether this disease is contagious. I must say that this disease is not transmitted.

Among the main etiological factors of gangrene can be called tissue trauma, exposure to unfavorable temperatures or chemicals, as well as radiation. To the development of this pathology also lead to internal disorders in the body. Among them is worth mentioning atherosclerotic vascular lesions, increased thrombosis, heart attack or other factors leading to a sharp disruption and even cessation of blood supply to tissues or organs, which requires immediate treatment of the disease that develops.

Dry gangrene often affects lower limbs and develops in most cases in patients with severe depletion or dehydration of the body. The onset of the disease is characterized by the appearance of severe pain, which is associated with tissue ischemia. It is located below the location of the affected blood vessel.

The extremity of this pathology becomes pale, marbled in appearance and cold to the touch, with palpation the pulse is not determined. In the affected area, sensitivity is lost. Patients begin to complain of numbness in the legs or hands. It must be said that the pain syndrome has a long-lasting character, since the necrotic tissues retain nerve cells and develop a reactive edema above the site of necrosis, and the pain can persist for a long time.

Dry gangrene of the lower extremities proceeds not only with the development of obstruction of the main trunk vessel, but also with spasm of collateral arterial vessels, which accelerates the development of the necrotic process. The lesions of the tissues start from the periphery and spread upwards to the place of the clogged vessels. With a favorable course of the disease, a protective shaft is formed on the edge of the healthy and diseased tissue, which prevents the further spread of the necrosis process.

If bacterial flora joins the pathological process, moist gangrene develops, which is accompanied by rotting of damaged tissues. It should be noted that dry and moist gangrene can cross into each other, while the dry form of the disease has a more favorable prognosis, because with it the necrotic masses do not disintegrate, toxic products are absorbed in small amounts, so there is no significant intoxication, and the general condition of patients is disturbed slightly. This allows for effective conservative therapy without necrectomy( surgical removal of necrotic tissue).

It should be noted that dry gangrene often develops in diabetes mellitus( more often with type 1 diabetes) and significantly complicates the course of this disease, although tissue necrosis in this case develops slowly enough. The general clinical disease develops, but in cases where the tissues can not dry up completely, putrefactive flora is activated.

This is most often observed in complete patients whose toxic decomposition products enter the bloodstream and cause a severe degree of intoxication. In this case, dry gangrene with diabetes goes into the wet form of the disease.

Principles of therapy for dry form of gangrene

The basis for the treatment of gangrene are methods that are aimed at eliminating the cause of the development of tissue necrosis. In the dry form of this pathology, an antiseptic dressing is applied and prescriptions are prescribed to improve blood circulation, as well as restorative means.

Treatment of dry gangrene may include amputation of necrotic sites, which is carried out after the appearance of the demarcation line( protective roller), followed by the appointment of antibacterial drugs that prevent the attachment of bacterial flora. I must say that with necrosis of the tip of the nose, phalanges of the fingers or earlobes of the ears, the affected tissues can themselves be rejected.

Because gangrene is a fairly serious disease, it is necessary to prevent its occurrence, especially in children and pregnant women. It should be remembered that not only toxemia, nephropathy or hematoma during pregnancy is a danger for women and fetus - slight skin damage can develop into gangrene, so even small wounds should be subjected to antiseptic treatment.