Gangrene

Gangrene is a medical emergency in which blood stops flowing to a specific part of your body, and tissues in that area die. Although gangrene can affect any of your body’s tissues, gangrene usually begins in your fingers, toes, hands or feet. Without prompt treatment, gangrene can be fatal.

What is the difference between wet gangrene and dry gangrene?

Wet gangrene and dry gangrene both happen when blood can’t reach part of your body, and the tissues in that area start to die. But wet gangrene also involves a bacterial infection that can quickly spread to your healthy tissues. This leads to symptoms like blisters, fluid drainage and a foul smell.

Who is at risk for gangrene?

People with certain underlying health conditions that affect their blood vessels face a higher risk. Such conditions include:

• Atherosclerosis: Plaque buildup in your arteries makes it harder for blood to flow through.
• Buerger’s disease: Inflammation of the blood vessels in your limbs leads to blood clots. As a result, less blood can flow through. This usually affects people who smoke or chew tobacco.
• Diabetes: This condition damages your nerves and blood vessels. It also causes wounds to heal more slowly. Slow-healing wounds face a higher risk of infection. Infections in your feet are a common complication of diabetes.
• Peripheral artery disease: Plaque buildup in your limbs prevents enough blood from reaching your legs, feet, arms or hands.
• Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome: Your calf muscle squeezes your popliteal artery. This limits blood flow to your lower leg during exercise.
• Raynaud’s syndrome: Cold temperatures affect the blood vessels in your fingers and toes. Your blood vessels constrict (narrow), limiting blood flow.
• Vasculitis: Inflammation of your blood vessels interferes with blood flow.