Fournier's gangrene: report of 20 patients.

Synergistic necrotizing fasciitis of the penis and scrotum was described first by Fournier and remains a rare but life-threatening disease. In Fournier's initial description the process was believed to be idiopathic. During the last 10 years we have treated 20 patients with Fournier's gangrene and a definite urologic or colorectal cause could be identified as the source of the infection in 19 (95 per cent). Despite the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and aggressive surgical débridement the mortality rate was 45 per cent.