Emphysematous Pyelonephritis Case Series From South India

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a rare, life-threatening necrotizing infection of the kidney. The mortality rate for EPN is as high as 25%. We conducted a retrospective study at MS Ramaiah Hospital between January 2011 and May 2016 to observe the clinical, biochemical, and microbiological patterns of EPN at our institute.

The clinical and laboratory data, imaging findings, and microbiological patterns of 51 patients chosen for the study were recorded. The data were analyzed to identify the prognostic variables that could predict the morbidity and mortality of patients with EPN, and the focus of this study was to determine risk factors for and outcomes of patients who presented with EPN and who required hemodialysis. Primary endpoints were successful treatment and all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints included need for hemodialysis and the need for a specific treatment.

There was an equal incidence among both sexes (median age: 59 years). Common symptoms were abdominal pain (94.11%), fever (83.2%), dysuria (74.5%), vomiting (72.54%), frequency of micturition (68.62%), oliguria, generalized weakness (66.67%), and breathlessness (66.67%); 98.03% (n = 50) of the patients had diabetes. The most common organism cultured was Escherichia coli (37.2%). Nineteen patients (37.2%) required dialysis; their mean age was 60.25 ± 11.74 years. Male sex, diabetes mellitus, shock, high serum creatinine at presentation, and uremic symptoms showed no statistically significant association. Indefinite hemodialysis was required by 12.5% of patients. The antibiotic-treated group had a 100% success rate, whereas the Double J (DJ) stenting group (Double J stent, Biorad, India) had 96.42% success rate.

Early diagnosis and broad spectrum antibiotics, together with an appropriately timed intervention, resulted in decreased mortality. Pain in the abdomen and renal angle tenderness were the most common clinical finding. E coli was the most found organism, and early use of broad spectrum antibiotics decreased mortality.