Dry gangrene occurs when blood supply is cut off. The area becomes dry, shrinks, turns black and eventually falls off.
Wet gangrene indicates that bacteria have entered the tissue. It is characterized by swelling, drainage, blisters, and an off-putting odor.
Gas gangrene is similar to wet gangrene, but the bacteria forms gas bubbles, causing the skin to crackle.
A qualified healthcare team will recommend the best course of treatment for gangrene. Often, treatment is aggressive. Antibiotics may be used to treat any infection. Surgery may be required to remove the dead tissue (debridement) or to amputate the affected body part. Patients whose gangrene is a result of a blocked artery may have vascular bypass surgery or an angioplasty to fix the problem. Some patients undergo non-surgical debridement in a procedure that uses fly larvae to eat away dead tissue. Minimally invasive interventional radiology procedures may be introduced to correct circulation issues and increase blood flow, helping to prevent future gangrene. Finally, hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps promote healing by increasing oxygen levels to the affected areas.