PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Qazi, Shabir A.
AU  - Mohammed, Abdulmajeed A.
AU  - Saber, Elsanousi I.
AU  - Mirza, Shaukat M.
TI  - Necrotizing fasciitis. Role of early surgical intervention
DP  - 2004 Jul 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 890--894
VI  - 25
IP  - 7
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/25/7/890.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/25/7/890.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2004 Jul 01; 25
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate our experience of management of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) particularly the role of early and aggressive surgical intervention.METHODS: This is a retrospective review of the cases affected by this disease and managed at Riyadh Medical Complex, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during 5 calendar years from 1996 through to 2000 (1416-1420 A.H). The preoperative and operative data was collected, and postoperative morbidity and mortality were analyzed.RESULTS: A total of 25 cases of NF were treated during the 5-year period, 18 were males and 7 female. The majority of patients had perianal suppuration as the primary lesion, followed by groin area in drug addicts and only 2 cases were primarily in the upper limbs. Diabetes and drug addiction were the main predisposing factors. All but 3 infections were polymicrobial, with streptococci and acinobacter being the most frequent organisms. The mainstay of treatment depends on a high index of suspicion, aggressive early and repeated debridements and adequate antibiotic coverage. The overall mortality was 24% but the drastic reduction in mortality was observed with early surgical intervention.CONCLUSION: The results highlight the role of early diagnosis; prompt and aggressive surgical debridements are critical for improved survival.