Gangrene Overview
Learn About Gangrene
Gangrene is the death of tissue in part of the body.
Gangrene happens when a body part loses its blood supply. This may happen from injury, an infection, or other causes. You have a higher risk for gangrene if you have:
- A serious injury
- A blood vessel disease (such as arteriosclerosis, also called hardening of the arteries, in your arms or legs)
- Diabetes
- A suppressed immune system (for example, from HIV/AIDS or chemotherapy)
- Surgery
The symptoms depend on the location and cause of the gangrene. If the skin is involved, or the gangrene 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)
- Foul-smelling discharge
- Loss of feeling in the area (which may happen after severe pain in the area)
If the affected area is inside your body (such as gangrene of the gallbladder or gas gangrene), the symptoms may include:
- Confusion
- Fever
- Gas in tissues beneath the skin
- General ill feeling
- Low blood pressure
- Persistent or severe pain
Gangrene requires urgent evaluation and treatment. In general, dead tissue should be removed to allow healing of the surrounding living tissue and prevent further infection. Depending on the area that has the gangrene, the person's overall condition, and the cause of the gangrene, treatment may include:
- Amputating the body part that has gangrene
- An emergency operation to find and remove dead tissue
- An operation to improve blood supply to the area
- Antibiotics
- Repeated operations to remove dead tissue (debridement)
- Treatment in the intensive care unit (for severely ill people)
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy to improve the amount of oxygen in the blood
Maryland Vascular Specialists
Mark Gonze is a Vascular Surgeon in Abingdon, Maryland. Dr. Gonze and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gangrene. His top areas of expertise are Stasis Dermatitis and Ulcers, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Carotid Artery Surgery, and Endoscopy.
Paul Johnson is a Vascular Surgeon and a Thoracic Surgeon in Chestertown, Maryland. Dr. Johnson and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gangrene. His top areas of expertise are Carotid Artery Disease, Arterial Embolism, Varicose Veins, Hemorrhoidectomy, and Hernia Surgery.
Mark Goldberg is a Podiatric Medicine provider in Chestertown, Maryland. Dr. Goldberg and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Gangrene. His top areas of expertise are Achilles Tendon Rupture, Hammer Toe, Fungal Nail Infection, and Ledderhose Disease.
What to expect depends on:
- Where the gangrene is in the body
- How much gangrene there is
- The person's overall condition
The person may die if:
- Treatment is delayed
- Gangrene is extensive
- The person has other significant medical problems
Complications depend on:
- Where in the body the gangrene is
- How much gangrene there is
- The cause of the gangrene
- The person's overall condition
Complications can include:
- Disability from amputation or removal of dead tissue
- Prolonged wound healing or the need for reconstructive surgery, such as skin grafting
Contact your provider right away if:
- A wound does not heal or there are frequent sores in an area
- An area of your skin turns blue or black
- There is foul-smelling discharge from any wound on your body
- You have persistent, unexplained pain in an area
- You have persistent, unexplained fever
Gangrene may be prevented if it is treated before the tissue damage can't be reversed. Wounds should be treated properly and watched carefully for signs of infection (such as spreading redness, swelling, or drainage) or failure to heal.
People with diabetes or blood vessel disease should routinely examine their feet for any signs of injury, infection, or change in skin color and seek care as needed.
Summary: Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most severe ischemic stage in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower limbs, characterized by decreased walking ability, resting pain (lasting for more than 2 weeks), ulcers, and gangrene, which seriously affect the quality of life of patients. Some patients may even face amputation or death. Thrombosis is an important pathological feature of CLI. TP03HN1...
Introduction: Diabetic foot is a severe complication of diabetes, often resulting in ulceration, osteomyelitis, and gangrene. Amputation or surgical debridement is the standard treatment for advanced cases. The study aims to evaluate the outcomes of different anesthetic techniques in diabetic foot amputation, specifically comparing peripheral nerve block (PNB) and general anesthesia.
Published Date: August 26, 2023
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Brownlee M, Aiello LP, Sun JK, et al. Complications of diabetes mellitus. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 37.
Bury J. Responses to cellular injury. In: Cross SS, ed. Underwood's Pathology: A Clinical Approach. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 5.
Nicholson JA, Mansour MA. Gangrene of the foot. In: Cameron JL, Cameron AM, eds. Current Surgical Therapy. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:1148-1154.