All forms of gangrene happen because of a loss of blood supply to a certain area. This deprives tissue of oxygen and nutrients, causing the tissue to die. Wet forms can develop from :. Risk factors for gangrene include :. The part will be cold to the touch, and there will be a loss of pulse in the arteries. There may not be any external signs of internal gangrene, but the following may occur as a result of septic shock and other complications:.
Gas gangrene can produce all of these symptoms, and others. The infected area of skin can quickly extend, with some changes visible within minutes. In gas gangrene, the skin may :. This is known as subcutaneous emphysema.
The gas is produced by the infectious bacteria and is highly toxic, causing the necrosis to spread quickly. A doctor will carry out a physical examination and take a medical history, to find out about symptoms and potential exposure to infection or trauma.
If gangrene is suspected, further diagnostic tests will be used to determine the type and extent of the necrosis, and to detect or rule out gas gangrene. Tests of blood, tissue, and any discharge may be carried out to identify any bacterial infection.
Anyone with suspected symptoms of gangrene needs immediate medical attention, to reduce the risk of serious complication and death. The most severe form, gas gangrene, is fatal without treatment. A hyperbaric chamber of high-pressure oxygen improves oxygen supply to the wounds by encouraging the formation of new blood vessels, and by causing greater dissolution of oxygen in the plasma.
Treatment takes place in a pressure chamber, and it involves inhaling pure oxygen at 2. Side effects can include pressure-related trauma to the ears or nose and temporary near-sightedness. Supervision by a qualified professional can prevent decompression sickness and non-lethal convulsions caused by oxygen toxicity. Internal gangrene. Gangrene that affects one or more of your organs, such as your intestines, gallbladder or appendix, is called internal gangrene.
This type of gangrene occurs when blood flow to an internal organ is blocked — for example, when your intestines bulge through a weakened area of muscle in your stomach area hernia and become twisted.
Gangrene can lead to serious complications if it's not immediately treated. Bacteria can spread quickly to other tissues and organs. You may need to have a body part removed amputated to save your life. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.
This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Gangrene is death of body tissue due to a lack of blood flow or a serious bacterial infection.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Gangrene of the hand and foot Open pop-up dialog box Close. Gangrene of the hand and foot Gangrene results when blood flow to a certain area of your body is interrupted, causing tissue decay and death.
Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Usatine RP, et al. Dry gangrene. McGraw Hill; Accessed Jan. Stevens D, et al. Clostridial myonecrosis. Jameson JL, et al. Sometimes the first sign of dry gangrene is a reddish line that develops around the affected tissue.
This line may later turn black. In this case, you may not have any symptoms on your skin or limbs. However, you may have pain, an unexplained fever that lasts a long time, or low blood pressure. You may also experience confusion.
Your doctor may suspect that you have gangrene based on your medical history and symptoms. They may also use a combination of additional diagnostic methods to determine your condition. A scraping of tissue from your affected body part may be examined with a microscope to look for dead cells. Some kinds of imaging are helpful in diagnosing the spread of gangrene in your internal tissues.
An anarteriogram test may be performed if doctors suspect that your gangrene is related to a circulatory problem. This test uses X-rays to monitor the flow of a special dye through your arteries, showing whether any arteries are blocked.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if bacteria are present. These are typically given intravenously, or through a needle directly into the bloodstream. For people with poor circulation that results in gangrene, vascular surgery surgery on the arteries or veins may be recommended in order to improve the flow of blood through the veins to body tissues.
Placing a person with gas gangrene in a special oxygen-rich environment can slow the growth of bacteria. This allows the skin to begin healing. It also brings oxygen to the damaged tissue to promote healing.
In serious gangrene cases, the dead tissue or body part may need to be removed. This process is called debridement. Debridement can be done with surgical tools or with chemicals. The goal of this type of surgery is to remove the affected areas to prevent the spread of infection and rid the body of the dead tissue.
One alternative form of debridement, known as maggot debridement, uses fly larvae to eat away bacteria and dead tissue. Though rare, this practice can still be used by physicians in the United States and abroad. Doctors are sometimes able to restore the flow of oxygen to the affected area. Skin grafts can repair any damaged tissue. This procedure uses a piece of your healthy skin from elsewhere on the body to cover the damaged area.
For severe cases, amputation of a limb, finger, or toe could be necessary to save your life. People who must have part of an arm or leg amputated due to gangrene may be fitted with a prosthesis, or artificial limb, to replace the missing body part. Gangrene can sometimes be treated without serious complications, especially if it is caught early. To keep more tissue from dying, gangrene must be treated early to minimize the damage.
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