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Gas-producing infections after lower-limb amputation because of ischemia

  • Clinical and Experimental Forum
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Summary

During the period 1972–1982, 22 patients with gas-producing infections after lower-limb amputation because of ischemia were reviewed. In 16 cases bacteria of the genus Clostridium could be cultured. Treatment consisted of hyperbaric oxygen, surgical debridement, and antibiotics. The incubation period was 1–11 days after the primary amputation, and the duration of the infection 2–31 days, significantly lower among 14 patients with diabetes mellitus. There was no difference in the course of clostridial and nonclostridial infections. No deaths were attributable to gas-forming infection.

Zusammenfassung

In dem Zeitraum 1972 bis 1982 wurden 22 Patienten mit gasbildenden Infektionen nach Amputationen im Bereich der unteren Extremitäten wegen arterieller Durchblutungsstörungen beobachtet. In 16 Fallen konnten Clostridien kultiviert werden. Die Behandlung bestand aus hyperbarir Sauerstofftherapie, chirurgischem Debridement und Antibiotika. Die Inkubationszeit betrug 1–11 Tage nach der primären Amputation, die Dauer der Infektion 2–31 Tage. 14 der 22 Patienten waren Diabetiker. Bei ihnen war die Dauer der Infektion statistisch zu sichern kürzer. Dagegen war der Verlauf der Infektionen mit und ohne Clostridiennachweis ohne Unterschied. Die Mortalität (7 von 22) kann nicht ursäch-lich der gasbildenden Infektion zugeordnet werden.

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Krebs, B., Møller, B.N. & Jensen, B.H. Gas-producing infections after lower-limb amputation because of ischemia. Arch. Orth. Traum. Surg. 104, 374–376 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454434

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454434

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