Fournier's gangrene: a report of 18 cases

Infective gangrene of scrotum and/or penis is infrequent occurrence. Eighteen patients who underwent operative debridement and skin coverage for Fournier's gangrene were reviewed. Their age ranged between 22 and 72 years. The most common predisposing factors were diabetes, perianal abscesses, perianal surgery, uremia and local trauma. The most frequently isolated organisms were Gram-positive cocci particularly Staph. aureus in addition to a variety of Gram- negative bacilli. Massive doses of parenteral antibiotics and wide local debridement were the key for the successful treatment. No case orchidectomy was indicated. Split-thickness skin grafts to cover the granulating surfaces after serial debridements and dressings were of significant effect in decreasing hospital stay. The two resultant deathes produced 11% mortality rate

Serum immunoglobulins in patients with hypertrophic scars and keloids

There is suspicion that Keloids arise as a result of immune reaction and the immune system was implicated in Keloid formation. This study included 80 patients with hypertrophic scars or Keloids, 34 were males and 46 were females, their ages ranged between 10 and 60 years [22.7 +/- 11.3] and 20 of closely matched population as a control group. Serum immunoglobulins [IgA, IgM and IgG] were estimated in the two groups by an immunodiffusion technique. There was a significant increase in the serum immunoglobulins in the patients with hypertrophic scars or Keloids than that of the control group, which may suggest the implication of the immune system in the formation of hypertrophic scars and keloids

Oral Rehydration therapy in moderately burned children

The resuscitation of children with more than 10% BSA burn requires the administration of fluids containing salts and water during the first 48 hours. The magic effect of oral rehydration salt known as [Rehydran-n] in the treatment of children suffering from diarrhea imposed the idea to try it in the resuscitation of moderately burned children. Children with burns from 10% to 20% BSA were chosen for this study; twenty cases received oral rehydration solution according to a special protocol and twenty cases resuscitated by the intravenous route using Parkland formula as a control group. Hematocrit, HB%, serum Na and K were measured in addition to the assessment of clinical picture and determination of the urine volume/hour to evaluate the efficiency of oral rehydration therapy in resuscitation. The results were highly encouraging

Epidemiology of burns in Assiut province during the last two years

Between January 1988 and January 1990, 599 cases of burn patients were admitted to the burn units of Assiut General Hospital [El-Shamla] and Assiut University Hospital. A retrospective study was carried out to analyze age, sex distribution, burn etiological factors, modality of treatment, hospital stay and mortality rate. It was found that males and females were equally affected by burn accidents. Children were involved in 50.9% of the cases. The burn was due to flame [67.9%], hot liquids [29.9%], electricity [1.2%] and chemicals [1%]. The number of deaths was 201 [33.5%]. The causes of this high mortality were discussed