[A case of gas gangrene following operation of cervical esophageal carcinoma].

A 74-year-old woman underwent surgery for cervical esophageal carcinoma. After operation, she had abdominal distension, high fever, and suddenly fell into shock and died. Autopsy revealed necrosis and multiple gas blebs in the entire digestive tract and liver. Direct smear specimens Gram-stained disclosed clostridium septicum and the cause of death was found to be gas gangrene. This is the first of clostridium infection localized in the digestive tract and liver after operation. Abdominal radiogram showed massive gas in the intestine, intramural bowel gas and gas in the portal vein, and these are very suggestive of gas gangrene of the intestinal tract.