Gangrene is the medical term used to describe the death of body tissue. This happens when a body part loses blood supply from an injury, an infection or a disease process, such as peripheral vascular disease. You have a high risk of developing gangrene if you have diabetes, surgery, a serious injury or a type of blood vessel disease. Complications will depend upon where the gangrene has occurred, how much there is, your underlying medical condition and your overall health. Learn how to recognize the complications from gangrene and how to avoid them.
Tissue Death
Tissue death is a common symptom and complication of gangrene. According to HealthiTalk.com, tissue death results from the lack of oxygen and blood supply to the area. Skin starts to turn pale or bluish and will progress to reddish-brown and then black. During this time, the area will shrink and may eventually fall off.
Reconstructive Surgery and Skin Grafting
MedlinePlus says that one of the complications of gangrene is the loss of tissue following tissue death. This loss may require skin grafting and reconstructive surgery to maintain the area's function. Commonly, gangrene will occur in an extremity, such as a hand or foot. The loss of tissue in the foot or hand may require skin grafting to regain function.
Amputation
When there is significant tissue loss, you may require amputation of the extremity. MedlinePlus warns that gangrene requires an urgent evaluation and treatment. Removal of the dead tissue must be done to allow healing to occur and prevent infection. Removal of the dead tissue may not necessarily mean amputation if the area is small. However, when dead tissue encompasses too much of the extremity, the entire extremity must be removed.
Infection and Septic Shock
The Mayo Clinic explains that areas of gangrene are more susceptible to infection, because they are open areas on the skin that have lost their first line of defense. Also, the tissue is no longer being fed by oxygen and nutrients. Infected tissue will have pus and a foul smell leaking from the tissue. The tissue is often swollen and painful, and you may be running a fever or feel unwell. If this infection is not addressed immediately, it can lead to septic shock. This is a bacterial infection that spreads throughout the body and will lead to low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, confusion and, if no treatment is sought, death.
Disability
An unfortunate complication of gangrene is the disability that results from the removal of dead tissue or amputation of a limb. You may have a toe, foot, leg or hand amputated. You will have to relearn how to walk or how to use your hands to perform tasks.
