Introduction:

Fournier's gangrene is defined as a specific form of Type I necrotizing fasciitis, which constitutes a rare urological emergency with high mortality.

Objective:

To characterize Fournier's gangrene in patients treated in the Urology service of the Hospital General Docente “Dr. Agostinho Neto” in the period from January 2008 to December 2018.

Method:

A descriptive study of demographic and clinical variables (age, gender, mortality, comorbidity, triggering causes, primary site of infection, site of extension of the infection, hospital stay) was carried out in 20 patients. The medical history was the primary source of information. The data were processed using the statistical program SPSS, version 20.0, and descriptive statistics were used to determine the absolute and relative frequencies (percentages) and mean.

Results:

100% corresponded to men with an average age of 64.0 years (27-92); mortality made a 40%. Diabetes mellitus was the most frequent comorbidity, in 10 of the patients (50.0%); 12 patients (60.0%) had more than one comorbid process. Skin lesions were the primary cause in 11 (55.0%), and the scrotum was the main site of origin of infection in 55.0%. The mean hospital stay was 37.7 days (7-75 days).

Conclusions:

The correct evaluation of the demographic and clinical variables is necessary to establish a correct diagnosis and treatment plan.

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