L. Indumathi

Nurse Educator, Department of Nursing, Kauvery Hospital, Salem

Correspondence: Email: [email protected]

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Diagnostic Image 1

What-is-your-diagnosis

What is your diagnosis?

Answer: Spontaneous Abortion – 20 weeks with placenta

Miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. About 10 to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. But the actual number is likely higher because many miscarriages occur very early in pregnancy.

The term “miscarriage” might suggest that something went wrong in the carrying of the pregnancy. But this is rarely true. Most miscarriages occur because the fetus isn’t developing as expected.

Miscarriage is a relatively common experience – but that doesn’t make it any easier. Take a step toward emotional healing by understanding what can cause a miscarriage, what increases the risk and what medical care might be needed.

The spontaneous loss of a woman’s pregnancy before the 20th week can be both physically and emotionally painful.

Ultrasonography is helpful in the diagnosis of spontaneous abortion, but other testing may be needed if an ectopic pregnancy cannot be ruled out. Chromosomal abnormalities are causative in approximately 50% of spontaneous abortions; multiple other factors also may play a role.

Symptoms include fluid, blood or tissue passing from the vagina and pain in the stomach or lower back. It’s also common to feel sadness or grief.

Unfortunately, the miscarriage process can’t be reversed once it has started. However, medication or procedures such as dilation and curettage can prevent certain types of complications. Women are at increased risk for significant depression and anxiety for up to one year after spontaneous abortion.

In addition, counselling to address feelings of guilt, the grief process, and how to cope with friends and family should be provided.

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Gangrene

Answer: Gangrene

Gangrene is a medical emergency in which blood stops flowing to a specific part of your body, and tissues in that area die. Although gangrene can affect any of your body’s tissues, gangrene usually begins in your fingers, toes, hands or feet. Without prompt treatment, gangrene can be fatal.

Gangrene is the death of tissue due to lack of blood flow. There are several types, including dry and wet gangrene. Peripheral artery disease is a common cause of dry gangrene. Wet gangrene involves lack of blood flow along with bacterial infection, and it causes blisters that release foul-smelling pus. Gangrene requires prompt medical care.

It depends on the type. Critical limb ischemia, which can lead to dry gangrene, affects 1 in 100 adults over age 50. It’s even more common among people over age 70, affecting 1 in 50 adults.

Gangrene is a medical emergency that could lead to amputations or death.

The following are the symptoms:

  1. Discoloration in a body part
  2. Loss of feeling, often after severe pain
  3. Foul-smelling discharge
  4. Sores or blisters that bleed
  5. A high fever and chills
  6. Dizziness
  7. Rapid heartbeat and breathing

Dry gangrene -All of your organs, such as your liver, heart, and muscles, need oxygen to function properly and survive. The oxygen is carried to different parts of your body by your blood. Dry gangrene occurs when one of your body parts is not getting enough oxygen. Eventually, the body part will start to deteriorate and die. With dry gangrene, the skin is closed and there is no evidence of infection. Dry gangrene most commonly develops due to arteriosclerosis, a buildup of fatty substances on your artery

How to prevent gangrene

To keep more tissue from dying, gangrene must be treated early to minimize the damage. People who have diabetes or a blood vessel disease should regularly check their hands and feet for gangrene symptoms. Watch for:

  1. any swelling, discharge, or redness that may indicate infection
  2. a wound that does not seem to be healing
  3. a change in the color of your skin

Taking antibiotics before or after having surgery, under the care of your doctor, may help you prevent the development of gangrenous infections.

Quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly can help improve your overall circulation. Quitting smoking is often difficult, but a doctor can help build a cessation plan that works for you.

You can help prevent gangrene by carefully watching any wounds you have and getting immediate attention if signs of infection develop. If you have certain conditions that can affect blood circulation (such as diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud’s disease), follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on managing your condition very carefully.

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