How long before gangrene sets in

If you have symptoms of gangrene, your healthcare team will give you a physical exam to check for signs of tissue death. They may also ask you about any chronic health conditions you have that could be linked to the gangrene. Your healthcare provider may also want to do lab tests to check for gangrene. A higher than normal amount of white blood cells, for example, can mean you have an infection. Your healthcare provider may take samples of tissue or fluid from the affected area and look at in the lab.

If your healthcare provider thinks you may have internal gangrene, he or she may order imaging tests or surgery to find out for sure. Because gangrene can spread rapidly over a large area of the body, the amount of dead tissue can be quite large.

Treating these large areas may result in:. You can help prevent gangrene by carefully watching any wounds you have and getting immediate attention if signs of infection develop. Gangrene is a medical emergency. The outlook with gangrene depends on the location and size of the affected area, as well as any other medical conditions you might have.

Gangrene is often life-threatening, so immediate medical care is crucial. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. Gangrene comes in 2 forms, dry and wet: Dry gangrene occurs when the blood supply to tissue is cut off. The area becomes dry, shrinks, and turns black. Wet gangrene occurs if bacteria invade this tissue. This makes the area swell, drain fluid, and smell bad. What causes gangrene? Gangrene happens when blood supply to certain tissues is stopped.

This can happen due to: An infection An injury such as a burn or combat wound A chronic disease Chronic diseases that harm the circulatory system include diabetes, peripheral artery disease, and Raynaud's disease.

Who is at risk for gangrene? What are the symptoms of gangrene? These are other symptoms of gangrene: Coldness and numbness in the affected area Pain in or beyond the affected area Redness and swelling around a wound this is often present when wet gangrene develops Sores that keep cropping up in the same place Persistent, unexplained fever, with a temperature higher than How is gangrene diagnosed? How is gangrene treated? It can affect any part of the body but typically starts in the toes, feet, fingers and hands.

Gangrene can occur as a result of an injury, infection or a long-term condition that affects blood circulation. Read more about the symptoms of gangrene and diagnosing gangrene. Anyone can develop gangrene, particularly after a serious injury, but there are certain groups of people who are more at risk. The earlier treatment for gangrene begins, the more successful it's likely to be. The main treatments include surgery to remove damaged tissue, known as debridement, and antibiotics to treat any underlying infection.

In more severe cases, it may be necessary to remove an entire body part such as a toe, foot, or lower leg. This type of gangrene occurs when blood flow to an internal organ is blocked — for example, when your intestines bulge through a weakened area of muscle in your stomach area hernia and become twisted.

Gangrene can lead to serious complications if it's not immediately treated. Bacteria can spread quickly to other tissues and organs. You may need to have a body part removed amputated to save your life. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.

Overview Gangrene is death of body tissue due to a lack of blood flow or a serious bacterial infection. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Gangrene of the hand and foot Open pop-up dialog box Close. Gangrene of the hand and foot Gangrene results when blood flow to a certain area of your body is interrupted, causing tissue decay and death. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Usatine RP, et al. Dry gangrene.

McGraw Hill; Accessed Jan. Stevens D, et al. Clostridial myonecrosis. Jameson JL, et al. Gas gangrene and other clostridial infections. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.