[Emphysematous pyelonephritis: review of the literature concerning a case report]

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is defined as the presence of gas-producing bacteria in the kidney and in peri-nephretic areas. Even if it is rare, the mortality rate of this affection is between 50% and 90%. The E. coli is responsible in 60% of the cases. We report a case of a 50 years old male patient, with under diagnosed diabetics, how is admitted with pains in the left flank, fever, troubled urine, hematuria and worsening of general state. The diagnostic of emphysematous pyelonephritis was confirmed by CT Scan. In spite of adapted antibiotherapy to the renal function, insulinotherapy and correction of hydro-electrolytic troubles, the patient died with septic shock associated to digestive bleeding. Based on this case and a review of the literature, the authors describe the different features of this disease. Only an urgent nephrectomy after a short reanimation can improve the prognostic.