Gangrene
From ZombieSquadWiki
Gangrene is a serious complication of necrosis (tissue death) from either a severe infection or due to ischemia (loss of blood supply) such as from frostbite or blocked blood vessels due to diabetes or another cause. Untreated gangrene produces toxins and can be fatal. There are three types of gangrene:
- Dry Gangrene is usually the result of ischemia of the lower limbs due to poor blood circulation such as by peripheral artery disease (PAD), diabetes or some other non-bacterial condition. Typically it affects the feet and if caught early can sometimes be reversed by vascular surgery. If not then often a bacterial infection will set in as the pooled blood dies and decomposes. The necrotic flesh will fall off eventually if not removed surgically.
- Wet Gangrene is as it named, the necrotic tissue is wet and emits a foul stench due to the presence of microorganisms feeding on the dead flesh. Like dry gangrene it starts out due to vascular blockage such as from frostbite or immersion foot but picks up an infection that accelerates the decay of tissue leading to sepsis and death of the patient if not treated.
- Gas Gangrene is bacterial infection that produces a toxic gas that kills the surrounding healthy tissue. The bacterial pathogen then moves into the newly dead tissue replicating itself and emitting more gas to new tissue. If not treated promptly then sepsis leading to toxemia and death occurs rapidly.
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Signs & Symptoms
Necrotic tissue turns green or black and emits a odor of putrefaction some describe as like "moldly cheese."
Prevention
Early treatment by a medical professional of any infected wound or condition where impaired blood flow has occurred is vital. So too is at least daily monitoring of wounds to see if infection has responded to treatment or is advancing to necrosis. Preemptive surgery may be necessary to correct the condition.
Treatment
Treatment for gangrene includes debridement and surgical amputation of the gangrenous tissue. During the 10th Century A.D. it was discovered that the larva of the blowfly (flesh eating maggots) will consume necrotic tissue and leave healthy tissue alone. While this treatment fell out of favor after antibiotics were discovered it has recently resurfaced as a viable alternative to surgical amputation.
