Table 1.
Comparison of necrotizing fasciitis by outcome (survivors versus non-survivors)
| All patients (n = 331) | Survivors (n = 246) | Non- survivors (n = 85) | P * | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 246 (74.3 %) | 75 % | 73 % | 0.73 |
| Age in yearsa | 50.8 ± 15.4 | 47 ± 14 | 61.6 ± 14.3 | 0.001 |
| Nationality | ||||
| Qatari | 110 (33.2 %) | 27.2 % | 50.6 % | 0.001 |
| Non-Qatari (Arabs) | 73 (22.1 %) | 20.3 % | 27.1 % | |
| Others | 148 (44.7) | 52.4 % | 22.4 % | |
| Symptoms | ||||
| Swelling | 237 (78 %) | 76.4 % | 82.3 % | 0.28 |
| Pain/tenderness | 208 (68.4 %) | 72.4 % | 57 % | 0.01 |
| Fever | 203 (67 %) | 73.3 % | 48 % | 0.001 |
| Laboratory findings | ||||
| Hemoglobin (g/dl)a | 11 ± 2.7 | 11.4 ± 2.7 | 10.1 ± 2.6 | 0.001 |
| WBC(/μl)a | 16.2 ± 8.6 | 16.4 ± 8.6 | 15.2 ± 8.6 | 0.28 |
| Platelet count (/μl)b | 269 ± 201 | 273 ± 141 | 230 ± 158 | 0.02 |
| Sodium (mmol/l)a | 133.5 ± 5.6 | 133.4 ± 5.4 | 133.9 ± 6 | 0.43 |
| Serum Creatinine (μmol/l)b | 97 (26–1263) | 91 (26–1189) | 135 (26–1263) | 0.001 |
| Serum Bilirubin(μmol/l)b | 14.2 (3–381) | 14 (3–233) | 15 (4–381) | 0.35 |
| Serum Glucosea | 12.0 ± 7.8 | 12.5 ± 8.4 | 10.7 ± 5.4 | 0.07 |
| C-reactive proteina | 221 ± 120 | 214 ± 120 | 232 ± 120 | 0.35 |
| Procalcitonin (<24 h)b ,c | 10.5 (0.07-303) | 3.3 (0.07-303) | 9.8 (0.1-182) | 0.28 |
| Scoring | ||||
| SOFAb | 9 (2–21) | 9 (2–19) | 12 (7–21) | 0.001 |
| LRINECb | 6 (1–13) | 5 (1–13) | 7 (2–13) | 0.001 |
| Site | ||||
| Lower limb/Thigh | 175 (53 %) | 53.3 % | 51.8 % | 0.81 |
| Perineum | 81 (25 %) | 23.6 % | 27 % | 0.52 |
| Abdominal/Groin | 38 (11.5) | 10.6 % | 14 % | 0.37 |
| Upper Limb | 13 (3.9 %) | 4.1 % | 3.5 % | 0.82 |
| Neck/Facial | 21 (6.3 %) | 7.3 % | 3.5 % | 0.21 |
| Chest/Breast | 8 (2.4 %) | 2.8 % | 1.2 % | 0.38 |
| Sacral | 5 (1.5 %) | 0.4 % | 4.7 % | 0.005 |
| Gluteus | 3 (0.9 %) | 1.2 % | 0 % | 0.30 |
| Histopathological confirmation | 192 (58 %) | 61 % | 49.4 % | 0.06 |
| Morbidity | ||||
| Diabetes Mellitus | 167 (52 %) | 47 % | 64 % | 0.007 |
| Renal impairment | 49 (15.2 %) | 10 % | 30 % | 0.001 |
| Coronary Artery disease | 46 (14.2 %) | 11 % | 25 % | 0.001 |
| Trauma | 43 (15.5 %) | 18.2 % | 8 % | 0.04 |
| Number of debridementb | 2 (1–8) | 2 (1–7) | 2 (1–8) | 0.22 |
| Combined antibiotics(>2) | 94(33.6 %) | 49.3 % | 28.2 % | 0.001 |
| Septic shock | 76 (27.8 %) | 19 % | 51.4 % | 0.001 |
| ICU stay in daysb | 5.5 (1–75) | 5 (1–43) | 9 (1–75) | 0.002 |
| Hospital stay in daysb | 16 (2–295) | 15 (2–295) | 20.5(2–273) | 0.02 |
* = survivors vs. non-survivors, a = values in (mean ± SD), b = values in median and (range), c=<0.5ng/l low risk and >2.0 ng/l high risk sepsis