Spontaneous Intrahepatic Gas Gangrene and Fatal Septic Shock

Abstract

Gas gangrene of the liver is a rare clinical syndrome associated with a high rate of mortality. It is mostly associated with malignancy and immunosuppression.

We report on a male patient who presented at the department of emergency medicine with high fever but no localised complaints. CT scan revealed a cavitary lesion filled with air in the liver. Clostridium perfringens was proved to be present in the hepatic lesion and the blood, and clostridium perfringens sepsis with gas gangrene of the liver was diagnosed. Despite early diagnosis and treatment the patient died. The importance of “an aggressive treatment policy” in this kind of life-threatening disease is emphasised.

Key Words:

• Gas gangrene
• septic shock
• liver abscess.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

N. Vermeersch

N. Vermeersch, M.D. Department of Emergency Medicine UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Laarbeeklaan 101 1090 Brussels, Belgium Tel.: [phone] E-mail: [email protected]