[Gangrenous conditions of the perineum and the genital area. Apropos of 15 cases].

The authors report 15 cases of gangrene of the perineum and genital organs: 10 patients with urological lesions (urethral stricture: 6 cases, benign prostatic hypertrophy: 3 cases, bladder stones: 1 case) and 5 patients with Fournier's disease. The unexpected recrudescence of this disease, its persistent severity, the limits of our understanding of the pathogenesis and the therapeutic problems involved, led the authors to analyse this series of cases which, despite an apparent diversity of aetiologies, retained common anatomical, bacteriological and therapeutic features. They stress the importance of emergency surgery, appropriate antibiotics and postoperative intensive care. The mortality remains high (5 patients in this series died).