Poor prognostic factors for Gangrene of the External Genital Organs over the last decade in West Africa: case of Ivory Coast

Abstract

Introduction: External genitalia gangrene (EGG) is a rare pathology today whose mortality rate remains high in sub- Saharan Africa.

Objective: To report poor prognostic factors in patients treated for EGG.

Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of the files of patients treated for EGG between 2013 and 2022 at the urology department of the CHU of Cocody-Abidjan. The measured variables were obtained from data from the hospitalisation and consultation files of these patients. It aimed to identify risk factors for unfavorable outcomes.

Results: The series included 73 male patients whose mean age was 49 years with borderline of 16 to 108 years. The mortality rate was 10.96%. The post-therapeutic follow-up concerned 65 patients alive for 5 months to 10 years after the initial management and the general quality of life overall was preserved. There were more deaths in patients treated within a period greater than or equal to 3 days. Diabetic patients had a hospital stay of up to 30 days. Diabetes and delay in treatment were the main negative factors (X² = 17,73 and p = 0069 < 0,05 significative).

Conclusion: Patients treated for EGG presented a severe alteration of their quality of life before treatment. A multidisciplinary care pathway in emergency, screening for fragility factors could improve the functional and vital prognosis of these patients.