Necrotising fasciitis can be cured with debridement surgery, during which the infected tissue is surgically removed.
Treating necrotising fasciitis
A patient with necrotising fasciitis should be given intravenous antibiotics. However, this alone will not cure necrotising fasciitis. The only way to cure the condition is to remove all of the necrotic tissue which has been infected by the bacteria. It is important that absolutely all of the dead tissue is surgically debrided or the infection will remain inside the body and will continue to spread.
With debridement surgery, it is possible to cure necrotising fasciitis.
Timing of treatment
Nevertheless, the timing of debridement surgery is crucial. Indeed, the operation must be carried out on an emergency basis, shortly after the onset of symptoms. This is because necrotising fasciitis is an incredibly aggressive infection that travels rapidly throughout the body.
Any delay in debridement surgery will mean the bacteria continue to multiply and spread, creating an ever increasing area of dead tissue. When debridement surgery is finally carried out, it will be difficult for surgeons to remove all the infected tissue. Numerous operations may be required, and if the infection began in a limb, an amputation may be necessary.
Fatal necrotising fasciitis
If treatment is not provided in time, it is possible that the patient will not survive their illness. This is because the infection will reach the bloodstream, causing the immune system to go into overdrive. This will result in a potentially fatal condition called sepsis, which is when inflammation and clotting occurs across the body. This will cause the blood pressure to drop and will disrupt the blood supply, ultimately leading to multi-organ failure.
Therefore while it is possible to cure necrotising fasciitis with debridement surgery, this must be carried out shortly after the onset of symptoms, otherwise a patient may suffer fatal complications.
Delay in diagnosing and treating necrotising fasciitis
If there a delay in treatment due to medical error, there may be grounds for a medical negligence claim. For example, doctors may have failed to make a timely diagnosis, or may have failed to proceed with emergency surgery once a diagnosis had been made.
Whatever the circumstances, if you think you or your family member has suffered harm because of medical negligence, please get in touch with us today. We specialise in necrotising fasciitis claims and will be able to advise you further.
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