Gangrene is the death of soft tissue, which occurs when blood supply is cut off to a certain area of the body. In other cases, gangrene can involve a severe bacterial infection. The patient may experience discoloration of the skin, foul-smelling discharge or sensory losses in the affected area. A patient should understand the available treatments if he develops gangrene.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are the first baseline treatment for a patient with gangrene. Most cases of gangrene involve a serious bacterial infection that must be treated to treat the gangrenous wound. Most doctors will prescribe intravenous antibiotic medications that can rapidly kill the offending bacteria. Antibiotics are typically given for seven to 14 days, depending on the severity of the infection and how quickly the affected tissue heals. A patient should fully follow the doctor's instructions and take antibiotics appropriately to avoid a more serious infection from returning.
Remove Dead Tissue
Most cases of gangrene will require the surgical removal of dead tissue in the affected area. Removing dead tissue, or debridement, will allow new tissue to grow and heal the wound. Furthermore, MedlinePlus states that removing dead tissue prevents further infection. If more tissue dies after the initial debridement, a second surgery may be necessary. Typically, the wound is left open to allow the wound to heal from the inside out to prevent bacteria from growing in the wound.
Amputation
If the infection cannot be controlled with antibiotics or tissue removal, amputation of the affected limb will likely be the unfortunate, but necessary, treatment for severe cases. An amputation is necessary to prevent the spread of the dangerous bacteria to other parts of the body. If bacteria spreads to other parts of the body, the patient may experience confusion, fever, gas in tissues beneath the skin, low blood pressure and severe pain.
