Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 13, 2025
06:09
Intrarenal Injection of Escherichia coli in a Rat Model of Pyelonephritis
Published on: July 18, 2017
8.4K
Emphysematous Pyelonephritis in a Horseshoe kidney
Mario Alberto Ochoa-Arvizo1, Fred Alain Montelongo-Rodríguez1, José Iván Robles-Torres1
1Urology Department, Hospital Universitario "Dr. José Eleuterio González", Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
Urology
|July 30, 2020
Summary
Emphysematous pyelonephritis, a severe kidney infection with gas formation, can occur in non-diabetics. This case highlights its occurrence in a horseshoe kidney, presenting with septic shock.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Infectious Diseases
- Urology
Background:
- Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare, necrotizing renal infection characterized by gas in the kidney and surrounding tissues.
- While typically associated with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (95% of cases), it can affect non-diabetic patients due to ureteral obstruction and gas-forming pathogens.
- Poor prognostic factors include thrombocytopenia, acute kidney failure, impaired consciousness, and shock.
Observation:
- A 41-year-old female presented with septic shock and diffuse abdominal pain.
- Diagnostic imaging confirmed emphysematous pyelonephritis.
- The patient was found to have a horseshoe kidney, a congenital anomaly.
Findings:
- The case demonstrates emphysematous pyelonephritis in a non-diabetic patient with a horseshoe kidney.
- The presentation included severe symptoms such as septic shock and abdominal pain.
- The presence of gas within the renal parenchyma and collecting system of the horseshoe kidney was confirmed.
Implications:
- This case underscores that emphysematous pyelonephritis can occur in non-diabetic individuals, particularly with urinary tract anomalies.
- Early recognition and management of emphysematous pyelonephritis are crucial, given its potential for rapid deterioration and poor prognosis.
- Horseshoe kidney may represent a predisposing factor for developing this severe infection.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Acute Pyelonephritis I: Introduction
319
Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the renal parenchyma and collecting system, including the renal pelvis, tubules, and interstitial tissue of one or both kidneys. It can be classified as either acute—a sudden, severe infection—or chronic, which refers to long-term or recurrent kidney infections.The primary cause of acute pyelonephritis (APN) is bacterial infection, with Escherichia coli accounting for approximately 70-80% of cases. Other bacteria, such...
319
01:28Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
191
Introduction:For diagnosing acute pyelonephritis, a comprehensive patient history is collected to identify symptoms such as dysuria, frequent or urgent urination, flank pain, or costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness that may suggest a kidney infection.Physical ExaminationDuring the physical examination, CVA tenderness is assessed. This involves gentle percussion over the costovertebral angle, where tenderness often indicates a kidney infection.Diagnostic TestsUrinalysis: Used to identify white...
191
01:10Nephrons
5.7K
The kidneys are intricate organs with millions of working units known as nephrons. Each nephron features two major structures: the renal corpuscle, which facilitates blood plasma filtration, and the renal tubule, which handles the glomerular filtrate. Blood supply is directly linked to the nephrons. The renal corpuscle consists of the glomerulus, a capillary network, and the Bowman's capsule, a double-walled epithelial structure that encases the glomerulus. The filtering of blood plasma...
5.7K
01:29Acute Kidney Injury II: Pathophysiology
679
Acute kidney injury (AKI) causes are categorized into three primary categories based on the location of the injury: prerenal, intrarenal (or intrinsic), and postrenal causes. This classification guides clinical management and illustrates how different pathways can impair kidney function.Etiology and Pathophysiology of Acute Kidney Injury1. Prerenal causesEtiology: Prerenal Acute Kidney Injury, the most common type, occurs when reduced blood flow to the kidneys decreases filtration capacity...
679
01:20Renal Corpuscle
6.4K
The glomerulus and Bowman's capsule are two essential components of the nephron, which is the functional unit of the kidney. These microscopic structures play a critical role in the process of blood filtration to produce urine.
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous...
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous...
6.4K
01:45Kidney Structure
73.9K
The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.
73.9K