gangrene
/ˈɡaŋɡriːn
/noun [mass noun]
Localized death and decomposition of body tissue, resulting from obstructed circulation or bacterial infection: gangrene set in, and her leg was amputated...
- Feces, urine, or blood can easily contaminate the wound and infection can range from a superficial infection to septicemia and gangrene of vulvar tissue.
- The presence of deep infection with abscess, cellulitis, gangrene, or osteomyelitis is an indication for hospitalization and prompt surgical drainage.
- Vasopressin should be infused through a central catheter because peripheral extravasation could cause tissue necrosis and gangrene.
verb [no object]
Become affected with gangrene: his wound had gangrened...
- The limb that is left to gangrene normally has to be cut off, and that would be a sad indictment on yourselves and a very poor response to the residents of the periphery of town.
- But the vet said the rock hand lacerated his stomach and part of the intestine had gangrened.
Derivatives
gangrenous
/ adjective ...- When they removed the appendix they found it was gangrenous.
- Her discharge from hospital was delayed by the fact that her toes were gangrenous (she would eventually lose them) and, because of blood clotting caused by the septicaemia, she had three epileptic seizures.
- The former RAF wireless operator developed sores while on marching duty that became gangrenous, causing his legs to be amputated.
Origin
Mid 16th century: via French from Latin gangraena, from Greek gangraina.