Our experience on Fournier’s gangrene in a tertiary-stage care center and analysis of its relationship with blood count parameters

BACKGROUND: Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is rapidly progressing and life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis of genital and perineal regions. The aim of the study was to share our experience with FG and to analyze the relationship of clinical data with whole blood count parameters, inflammation cells, and systemic inflammation markers. METHODS: The digital medical records of the adult patients followed-up and treated with diagnosis of FG between January 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Data were as age, gender, total length of hospital stay, predisposing factors, etiological factors, total number of debridement’s, surgical procedures, and antibiotherapy were collected. Serum glucose levels, complete blood count parameter levels, serum inflammation indicators and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels measured at the initial day of hospital admission, post-debridement 1(st) and 7(th) days were measured. RESULTS: Thirty-six male patients were included, with a mean age of 56.42 (22–86) years. The most common predisposing factor was diabetes mellitus (n=13; 36.1%). The most frequently seen etiological cause was scrotal abscess (n=19; 52.8%). A statistically significant decrease was found in White blood cell count, neutrophil level, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) value and CRP level measured before debridement, post-debridement 1(st) and 7(th) days (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the number of debridement’s and age, NLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and CRP values at the initial admission time (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The infections of urogenital region are the essential etiological origin of FG. As a rare urological emergency, significant changes were observed in clinical data and blood count parameters during the course of FG.