[Management of emphysematous pyelonephritis based on a series of 21 cases]

Culture-Negative Emphysematous Pyelonephritis as a Complication of Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Report

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a severe, necrotizing infection of the renal parenchyma. It is commonly found as a complication of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM). EPN has a terrible prognosis unless promptly identified and treated. In this case study, a 38-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was admitted due to complaints of excruciating abdominal pain, vomiting, and non-adherent to his insulin medication. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with EPN. For most patients, the current course of treatment includes nephrectomy along with antimicrobial medications. In this case report, however, the patient improved with conservative treatment such as IV fluids, antibiotics, and blood glucose control.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis: outcomes of conservative management and literature review

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a rare, necrotising infection of the renal parenchyma, predominantly associated with Escherichia coli infection and unless promptly recognised and dealt with, it carries a poor prognosis. The current treatment is one of antimicrobial therapies together with nephrectomy in a majority of patients. We report an elderly man with multiple comorbidities with a diagnosis of EPN whose condition improved with antimicrobial and supportive therapy, and no surgical intervention was required.

[Conservative treatment in diabetic patients with emphysematous pyelonephritis: about five cases]

Acute emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a severe kidney infection. Early and effective treatment is essential to reduce high mortality rates due to this disease. Our study aims to highlight the clinical and paraclinical features as well as the peculiarities of therapeutic management of this disease and focus on the possibility of conservative treatment in diabetic patients. We analyzed the medical records of patients with EPN treated in the Department of Urology at the Hassan II University Hospital, Fez between January 2004 and January 2010. For each medical record we described clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic features as well as patient's evolution after treatment. We here report the case of 5 female patients whose average age was 45,6 years. All patients were diabetic. Lithiasic obstruction of the upper urinary tract was found in 3 patients (60%). The diagnosis was made by means of abdominal CT scan. All patients underwent resuscitation measures including antibiotic and insulin therapy. Conservative surgical procedure was performed in all cases. Indeed, surgical drainage of perirenal collections was performed in two cases, percutaneous renal drainage in one case and drainage using double-J ureteral catheter in 2 cases. Clinical and radiological evolution was excellent with renal preservation in all patients Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare and serious complication, especially in diabetic patients. Diagnosis is based on CT scan. Surgical treatment should be conservative in most cases, apart from severe forms, especially in diabetic patients who have potential risk of chronic renal failure.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis: Time for a management plan with an evidence-based approach

INTRODUCTION

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a life-threatening necrotising kidney infection, but there is no consensus on the best management.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed previous articles published from 1980 to 2013 that included studies reporting on EPN, and applying the Cochrane guidelines, we conducted a meta-analysis of the results.

RESULTS

In all, 32 studies were included, with results for 628 patients (mean age 56.6 years, range 33.8-79.9). There were 462 women, outnumbering men by 3:1. Diabetes was present in 85% of the cases. Fevers and rigor (74.7%), pyuria (78.2%) and pain (70.4%) were the most common symptoms. Shock was associated with 54.4% of deaths while obstructive uropathy was associated with 15.1% of deaths. Computed tomography was diagnostic in all the cases. Percutaneous drainage (PCD) and medical management (MM) alone were associated with a significantly lower mortality rate than was emergency nephrectomy (EN), with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for PCD vs. EN of 3.13 (1.89-5.16; P < 0.001), for EN vs. MM of 2.84 (1.62-4.99; P = 0.001), and of 0.91 (0.53-1.56; P = 0.73, i.e., no difference) for PCD vs. MM. Open drainage also had a significantly lower mortality rate than EN, with a ratio of 0.12 (0.02-0.91; P < 0.04).

CONCLUSION

The overall mortality rate was ≈18%; shock was associated with a high mortality rate and therefore should be managed aggressively. PCD and MM were associated with significantly higher survival rates than EN, and therefore EN should only be considered if the patient does not improve despite other treatments.