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Fournier Syndrome

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Anal Fistula and Abscess

Part of the book series: Coloproctology ((COLOPROCT))

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Abstract

Fournier’s gangrene is a rare but life-threatening disease. It is a surgical emergency where early diagnosis and aggressive management are paramount for favorable outcomes. The disease has a predilection for patients with impaired immunity, diabetes, renal and liver failure, obesity, and chronic alcoholism. It is commonly a mixed bacterial infection confined to the external genitalia, perineal, and peri-anal region. Although our understanding of the disease has improved, the rapid spread of the disease can result in multi-organ failure and death. Diagnosis and management of Fournier’s gangrene and all necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) is clinical and urgent. It involves prompt management of sepsis, stabilization of parameters, and urgent (often repeated) surgical debridement. Advances have centered on diagnostic and prognostic tools, surgical debridement techniques, indication for ostomy formation, novel tissue management therapies, and reconstructive surgery techniques. Studies are limited to case series and case studies; more prospective studies should be conducted to reduce ongoing high death rates, although the urgency of the condition makes this difficult.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Robin Phillips Fistula Research Unit, St Mark’s Hospital and Academic Unit, London, United Kingdom

    Charlene Sackitey

  2. Robin Phillips Fistula Research Unit, St Mark’s Hospital and Academic Institute, Harrow, UK

    Phil Tozer

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  1. Charlene Sackitey
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  2. Phil Tozer
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Correspondence to Phil Tozer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Proctology Unit Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Foundation University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Catholic University, Rome, Italy

    Carlo Ratto

  2. Proctology Unit Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Foundation University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Angelo Parello

  3. Proctology Unit Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Foundation University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Francesco Litta

  4. Proctology Unit Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Foundation University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Veronica De Simone

  5. Proctology Unit Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Foundation University Hospital “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Roma, Italy

    Paola Campennì

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Sackitey, C., Tozer, P. (2022). Fournier Syndrome. In: Ratto, C., Parello, A., Litta, F., De Simone, V., Campennì, P. (eds) Anal Fistula and Abscess. Coloproctology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76670-2_43

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76670-2_43

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