Necrotising fasciitis is an horrific condition with a high mortality rate. Diagnosis and treatment are a matter of extreme urgency.
Death from necrotising fasciitis
Undiagnosed and untreated necrotising fasciitis is almost inevitably fatal. This appalling illness results when a range of pathogens enter the deep soft tissue of the body where they cause surrounding tissue to decay and die. From its point of origin, the infection will spread relentlessly through the body’s connective tissue, continuing to infect and destroy the tissue it meets. Eventually, this will cause the body’s major organs and life-support system to fail, resulting in the death of the patient.
It is a highly-virulent infection, spreading at a fast rate and requires an early diagnosis and emergency surgical treatment to give the patient a chance of survival. Even where treatment is initiated, between 20% and 40% of patients are thought to die from this deadly condition.
Diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis
Time is of the essence in the diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis and GPs and hospital practitioners need to be suspicious when patients present with the following symptoms:
- Extreme pain in the region of a wound or cut
- Swelling and tenderness in the same area
- Redness around a wound or cut
The patient may also be suffering with a high temperature, a fast heartbeat and possible low blood pressure.
Delayed referral
Emergency treatment is necessary and a failure to refer for investigation a patient who subsequently dies or suffers severe harm due to necrotising fasciitis may be considered as medically negligent.
Delayed treatment
A patient suspected of suffering from necrotising fasciitis requires emergency treatment. The later treatment is commenced, the greater likelihood there is that the patient will die.
It may not be absolutely confirmed that the patient is suffering with this appalling condition as there is no easy to test which will indicate that. Sometimes, surgical investigation is required in order to confirm a diagnosis. However, a failure to consider and refer a patient with possible necrotising fasciitis may prove deadly.
Intravenous antibiotics and emergency surgical removal (debridement) of all affected tissue is crucial in order to give the patient a chance of survival. A prompt commencement of surgery and a comprehensive initial debridement procedure are known to be most important in saving the patient’s life.
Medical negligence
If diagnosis and treatment are delayed due to a failure to consider that the patient might be suffering from necrotising fasciitis, the outcome for the patient could be poor, indeed.
If you or a loved one have suffered a severe long-term impact due to such a failing, it might be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Contact us to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor with expertise in necrotising fasciitis claims.
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