Surgical debridement is a fundamental part of the treatment of necrotising fasciitis. But what is it and why is it necessary? How extensive does it need to be and what is the best timing?
What is debridement in necrotising fasciitis?
Debridement in necrotising fasciitis refers to the surgical removal of dead tissue. When a patient is suffering with necrotising fasciitis, bacteria has reached the deep soft tissue of the body and is causing it to decay through lack of oxygen. If the infection is not removed from the body, the infection will continue to spread through the body’s fascia and continue to cause more destruction of tissue until the vital organs are compromised and the patient dies.
Debridement of infected tissue is vital to the patient’s survival. Antibiotics alone are unlikely to bring about the patient’s recovery as the very mechanism by which the antibiotics are spread – the bloodstream – may well be compromised by the infection and therefore the antibiotics will fail.
How much debridement is enough?
All infected tissue must be removed from the patient’s body if they are infected with necrotising fasciitis. This is the only way in which to halt the spread of the infection. The more successful the initial debridement procedure is, the more positive the long-term outcome is likely to be also.
This can mean a fairly significant amount of skin and tissue has to be removed.
It can also mean that the patient has to lose a limb before the infection is under control. Necrotising fasciitis mostly occurs in the abdomen or limbs and so a limb can be highly susceptible to the ravages of the infection.
The need for all infected tissue to be removed can also mean that most necrotising fasciitis patients have to undergo more than one debridement procedure before their body if free from infection. In a recent study in the Netherlands, it was found that necrotising fasciitis patients required an average of approximately three debridement procedures before all tissue was removed.
Timing of debridement
Debridement of infected tissue needs to begin as soon as possible after confirmation of diagnosis. In fact, in some cases, surgical investigation is necessary in order to confirm the diagnosis.
A delay in initiating debridement is likely to lead to a poorer patient outcome as it will give the bacteria longer to spread through the patient’s body.
Medical Negligence
It can be seen, therefore, that as early a diagnosis as possible for a patient who is developing necrotising fasciitis is imperative.
A delay in diagnosis can be fatal.
If you or a loved one have attended a medical practitioner with key symptoms of necrotising fasciitis but were misdiagnosed, leading to a poor outcome, you may wish to consider making a claim for compensation.
Contact us to discuss your experience with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
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