emrcs Flashcards
1
Q
What is gangrene?
A
Gangrene typically refers to necrosis with putrefaction of tissue, the tissue will characteristically appear black. Both wet and dry types of gangrene are recognised. In the former, the process is complicated by cellular destruction by bacterial enzymes. In the latter, cellular structure is maintained. In some cases gangrene may progress from one type (dry) to another (wet). This is best exemplified in peripheral vascular disease where an initial patch of dry gangrene progresses to wet gangrene as a result of super-added clostridial infection.
