Evaluation of the Utility of the Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index in the Management of Fournier's Gangrene in North India: A Multicentre Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE: To study the utility of Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index (FGSI) with mortality predictive value in our tertiary institutes in North India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 95 cases of Fournier's Gangrene (FG), admitted from 2009 to 2011, was carried out. We analysed clinical and laboratory findings, various prognostic factors, surgical treatments and their outcomes in FG patients. FGSI was used as individual variable to estimate the severity of FG; the effects of these factors on mortality were also evaluated. RESULTS: The overall mean age was 46.5 ± 15.6 (range 24-82) years. Anorectal and urological regions were the main sites of the infection. The most common site of infection origin was scrotum in 81.3% in group A and 41.2% in group B. One or more predisposing factors such as diabetes mellitus (DM; 55%) malignancies (4.6%), chronic renal failure (4.5%) and previous surgery (9.2%) were detected. We observed mortality in 26.5% cases (17/65). The FGSI calculated averaged 5.95 ± 365 in group A and 9.44 ± 2.56 in group B, at the time of admission (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In FG, an early diagnosis and early surgical debridement are essential. The FGSI seems to be an excellent tool for the outcome prediction.