R. Herrera et al., SURGICAL INTERVENTION FOR THE COMPLICATIONS OF MENINGOCOCCAL-INDUCED PURPURA FULMINANS, The Pediatric infectious disease journal, 13(8), 1994, pp. 734-737
Purpura fulminans is an infrequent but sometimes catastrophic illness
that usually complicates a viral, rickettsial or bacterial infection.
This communication presents a retrospective review of 152 patients wit
h meningococcemia hospitalized at Children's Medical Center of Dallas
from January, 1983, through December, 1993. Eighteen (11.9%) of the 15
2 patients developed purpura fulminans. Thirteen (72%) of the 18 patie
nts with purpura fulminans needed one or more surgeries including skin
grafts, local debridement, microvascular flaps or amputations. Five p
atients (28%) died.