Spontaneous intrahepatic gas gangrene and fatal septic shock

Gas gangrene of the liver is a rare clinical syndrome associated with a high rate of mortality. It is mostly associated with malignancy and immunosuppression. We report on a male patient who presented at the department of emergency medicine with high fever but no localised complaints. CT scan reveal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inActa chirurgica belgica Vol. 109; no. 3; p. 400
Main Authors Meyns, E, Vermeersch, N, Ilsen, B, Hoste, W, Delooz, H, Hubloue, I
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.05.2009
Subjects
Biopsy
Clostridium perfringens - isolation & purification
Diagnosis, Differential
Fatal Outcome
Gas Gangrene - complications
Gas Gangrene - diagnosis
Gas Gangrene - microbiology
Humans
Liver Abscess, Pyogenic - complications
Liver Abscess, Pyogenic - diagnosis
Liver Abscess, Pyogenic - microbiology
Male
Middle Aged
Shock, Septic - diagnosis
Shock, Septic - microbiology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:Gas gangrene of the liver is a rare clinical syndrome associated with a high rate of mortality. It is mostly associated with malignancy and immunosuppression. We report on a male patient who presented at the department of emergency medicine with high fever but no localised complaints. CT scan revealed a cavitary lesion filled with air in the liver. Clostridium perfringens was proved to be present in the hepatic lesion and the blood, and clostridium perfringens sepsis with gas gangrene of the liver was diagnosed. Despite early diagnosis and treatment the patient died. The importance of "an aggressive treatment policy" in this kind of life-threatening disease is emphasised.
ISSN:0001-5458
DOI:10.1080/00015458.2009.11680447