Meningitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Meningitis, including details on viral, bacterial, spinal, symptoms, treatment.

Purpura fulminans -- soft tissue damage as a manifestation of bacterial sepsis.

Klebanovas J, Barauskas V, Cekanauskas E, Malcius D, Grinkeviciute D

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kaunas Medical University Hospital, Kaunas, Lithuania.

We present here two cases of purpura fulminans (PF), a rare complication of septicemia. Its fulminant course usually prompt the surgeon into quick and aggressive action. Although sometimes it may lead to mutilation of a patient, nevertheless it is a life-saving procedure. A decision to amputate all four extremities is very difficult, both for the parents and for the surgeon. Therefore one must be absolutely sure that this management strategy is the only way to save the patient's life. Two cases of meningococcal and staphylococcal sepsis treatment are described in this paper. The surgical approach is discussed together with a review of the literature.

Published 6 May 2005 in Eur J Pediatr Surg, 15(2): 120-4.
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