Necrotizing fasciitis : biochemical markers and prediction of mortality

Abstract EN

Background : necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare disease with a high mortality rate.

identifying patients who need critical care and more aggressive treatment is vital to improve survival.

objective : the aim of this study is to evaluate common biochemical markers with NF and its possible use as predictors of mortality in this subset of the population.

design : retrospective single-center study.

setting : surgical department, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain.

method : twenty-six patients with NF completed records were reviewed from January 2010 to December 2013.

personal statistics, comorbidities and laboratory data were documented and analyzed.

Result : Fifteen (58%) patients survived.

Eleven (42%) died; the mortality rate was high in those with albumin levels less than 20 g/L, and with high urea (more than 10mmol/L) and creatinine more than 141 umol/L.

conclusion : initial serum albumin levels in patients with NF may strongly predict mortality.

hence, more aggressive management of this subset of patients is the key to decrease the mortality risk.