Objectives.
Fournier's gangrene (FG), though rare, is a life-threatening extensive fulminant
infection of the genitals, perineum, or abdominal wall caused by a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic micro-organisms. Early and aggressive surgical
debridement of the necrotic tissue and complete
antibiotic coverage are the
gold standards in treating FG. The purpose of our study was to assess the role of MEBO (
moist exposed burn ointment) in topical treatment of the
wound secondary to surgical
debridement. Methods. Eleven patients (age range, 40-75 yr; mean, 55 yr) were admitted to the clinical facilities of the Department of Urology at Al Sabah Hospital, Kuwait, suffering from
Fournier's gangrene, in the 31-month period between January 2004 and July 2006. All these patients were treated with broad-spectrum triple antimicrobial
therapy as well as extensive
debridement of necrotic tissue. The resultant
wounds were treated with MEBO in six randomly selected patients and with a placebo in the remaining five patients. Results. The duration of
hospital stay was reduced by 41.7% in the MEBO-treated group (30.0 vs 51.5 days) and
pain control of
pain was faster, which could be attributed to the faster control of
infection and wound healing in this group. Conclusion. A combination of appropriate
antibiotic coverage and aggressive surgical
therapy is mandatory for the treatment of FG. MEBO promotes the healing of the resulting, quite extensive
wound, reducing
pain and controlling
infection. It is a also a cost-effective
therapy as it accelerates healing and reduces
hospital stay by 41.7%.