What is gangrene?

What Does gangrene Mean

In order to know the meaning of the term gangrene, it is necessary, first of all, to discover its etymological origin. Thus, we can underline that it derives from Latin, specifically from "gangraena", which, in turn, emanates from the Greek "gangraina" and was used as a synonym for the death of tissues and their corresponding putrefaction.

This is the name given to the death of a tissue in the absence of blood supply.
Gangrene usually occurs when a wound becomes infected, cells die, and tissue decay occurs . Once gangrene appears, the affected tissues are lost forever (they cannot be recovered).
Circulatory problems, diabetes, and exposed fractures can cause gangrene. If it is internal, the person may experience pain and have a fever. Gangrene on the skin , meanwhile, is revealed by numbness, blemishes, and ulcers.

In order to diagnose gangrene, it is necessary to submit the patient to different tests. Specifically, it will be necessary to carry out from a blood test to a blood culture passing also through an examination of the pus. However, it is also common to carry out different radiological examinations.
When gangrene breaks out due to the lack of blood circulation in a certain area, without another secondary infection, it is called dry gangrene . On the other hand, if gangrene arises as a result of an infection caused by bacteria, it is called wet gangrene . Another kind of gangrene is gas or foamy gangrene caused by the bacterium Clostridium perfringens , with which the skin falls apart, giving off a foul odor.
To prevent the advance of gangrene, in ancient times, larvae were used to eat dead meat and did not affect living tissue. Over the years, antibiotics have emerged that make it possible to treat wounds more effectively.
Treatment of gangrene must be urgent. In addition to antibiotics, it can include debridement (the surgical removal of dead tissue) and even amputation of the affected area.
Specifically, among the antibiotics that work the most and best to fight gangrene are Clindamycin, Penicillin, Chloramphenicol and Tetracycline, among others.
Likewise, we cannot ignore other treatments that can be used to address this problem, such as blood vessel surgery, also known as angioplasty, and worm therapy. This, which is also called biological therapy or Maggot therapy, and is based on treatments from centuries ago.
Specifically, it consists of the use of worms, which are raised in a special way in laboratories using sterilized eggs. These are placed on the wound in question, covered with gauze and after a few days the said gauze and said animals are removed. Specifically, what they do is kill bacteria and thus promote healing.