Content

• Steps
• Warning

Gangrene is a dangerous disease and requires professional medical treatment as soon as possible. The longer you delay running for gangrene, the lower your chances of full recovery. Doctors often treat gangrene by removing dead tissue formed by the disease, prescribing antibiotics and applying other treatments such as oxygen therapy and larval therapy. Learn about how to treat gangrene to find out what to do when dealing with the disease.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Examination

1. 

   See your doctor if you think you have dry gangrene. Gangrene is caused by a disease or skin disorder, in some cases ischemic (blockage of the artery to the legs and feet). All types of gangrene require professional medical treatment. If you suspect that you have dry, even mild, gangrene, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms of dry gangrene include:
   • Dryness and atrophy of the skin lead to easy peeling of the skin
   • Skin turns bluish or blackish
   • The skin is cold and numb
   • Sometimes it hurts

2. 

   
   
   Go to the emergency room if you have wet necrosis. Of all types of gangrene that require prompt treatment, wet necrosis is the type most likely to accompany an infection, making it difficult to treat if ingested. Injuries can also cause wet necrosis, so get treated right away if you do. Get medical help immediately if the following symptoms of wet necrosis are detected:
   • Swelling and pain in the affected area
   • The skin changes from red to brown or black
   • Blistering or sores with a bad smell of pus
   • Fever
   • Not feeling well
   • Make a sound when infected area is pressed.

3. 

   
   
   Watch for serious symptoms. After determining that you have gangrene, you should look for symptoms that indicate gangrene has entered the bloodstream and should be treated immediately. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away:
   • Hypotension
   • Heart beat fast
   • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
   • Sudden changes in body temperature
   • Pain in the body
   • Rash
   • Confusion or dizziness
   • Pale, cold and soft skin
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Method 2 of 2: Consider treatment therapies

1. 

   
   
   Take antibiotics and other medications as directed. Your doctor may inject antibiotics into a vein or instruct you to take an antibiotic during treatment. You may also be prescribed blood sugar-regulating drugs because short-term glycemic control and glycemic control promote effective healing and prevent infection. You should follow your doctor's instructions about using antibiotics and other prescription medications while treating gangrene.
   • If you experience side effects or feel you no longer need medication, call your doctor before stopping use.
   • Do not stop taking antibiotics halfway. Taking the inadequate dose of medication will not be effective and make future infections more difficult to treat.

2. 

   Open-mouth surgery and wash the wound. The wound with tissue necrosis, contamination or missing stitches should be opened before completing other operations. Besides, washing the wound is an extremely important step, helping to remove bacteria and fluids inside.
   • When opening surgery, the doctor will use a knife or scissors to remove tissue that is necrotic or unwanted debris.
   • Enzyme opening involves the use of various enzymatic agents for wound treatment.

3. 

   Treatment with oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy can sometimes be used to promote repair of damaged tissue. If you treat this method, you will be placed in a special room filled with oxygen. The oxygen concentration in this room will be much higher than that outside, which in turn can promote treatment effectiveness and recovery time.
   • Oxygen therapy can help wound healing and reduce the amount of tissue that needs to be removed.
   • Oxygen therapy is also very helpful for internal infections caused by "gas gangrene" - gangrene caused by the Clostridium bacillus that develops inside the body.

4. 

   Consider other therapies. Biological therapies such as larval therapy are used in the treatment of ulcers, chronic venous ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and other acute and chronic wounds. Today, human recombinant growth factors are being viewed as potential treatments for wounds. These factors include platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor and macrophage-neutralizing polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation factor. Your doctor may recommend one of these treatments to speed up the recovery process.
   • Try to relax while doing larval therapy. The sterile and laboratory-raised larvae are often used to treat gangrene. The larvae can eat dead tissue so they are released onto affected tissue to eat up dead skin. This therapy also helps the body repair itself and prevents infection.

5. 

   Discuss resection with your doctor. You may be asked to have surgery to remove the affected tissue from your body. If not removed, gangrene will spread and endanger the rest of the body, even death. Therefore, your doctor may remove your fingers, toes, feet, or both feet and hands to treat gangrene.
   • Remember that even if surgery to open the artery and restore blood flow to the affected area is successful, you will still need to amputate the dead tissue in most cases.

6. 

   Treatment of gangrene disease. The causes of gangrene are diabetes, atherosclerosis of the limbs, peripheral artery disease, smoking, trauma, obesity and Raynaud's disease. You need medication or surgery for these conditions to restore blood flow to the affected tissues and improve your health in the future. Discuss treatment options with your doctor. advertisement

Warning

• Do not self-treat gangrene. Gangrene without professional medical treatment will become more severe. See your doctor right away if you suspect you have gangrene.
• Always follow your doctor's instructions during the treatment of ischemic wounds and gangrene.