Gangrenous

Gangrenous is an adjective used in medical contexts to describe tissue affected by gangrene. Gangrene refers to tissue death caused by insufficient blood supply, often compounded by infection, and it can progress to systemic illness if untreated.

Common forms are dry gangrene (ischemic, slow progression with dark, dry tissue); wet gangrene (superimposed infection, swelling, rapid spread, foul odor); and gas gangrene (toxin-producing bacteria generating gas within tissues, often with rapid decline).

Causes include arterial occlusion from diabetes or atherosclerosis, trauma, surgery, frostbite, or severe infection. Risk factors include peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, immune suppression, and chronic wounds.

Clinical features include discoloration, numbness or pain changes, and tissue decay; wet or gas forms may have swelling, crepitus, fever, and sepsis signs. Diagnosis combines exam, imaging of blood flow, and microbiology.

Treatment requires urgent care with surgical debridement or amputation as needed, antibiotics, and management of sepsis and underlying causes. Prognosis depends on type, extent, and comorbidities, with wet and gas forms carrying higher risk.

Prevention focuses on managing vascular disease, proper wound care, prompt infection treatment, and good diabetes control to reduce tissue necrosis risk.