A prospective analysis of emphysematous pyelonephritis at a tertiary care centre

Purpose: To evaluate the presentation and diagnostic criteria of emphysematous pyelonephritis and different modalities of their management at our instititute. Methods: A prospective study of 5 years in which patients who were diagnosed to have emphysematous pyelonephritis confirmed by a non contrast CT presenting at our centre were included in this study and baseline information, a brief clinical history with a written consent was collected from each patient. The course of the patient along with investigations and interventions done from admission were recorded. Results: 72 patients were included in this study with a mean age of 55.4 +/-12.1 years (30 to 75 years ), comprising of 47 females and 25 males. Common presentation was tachycardia (94.5 %) and fever associated with burning micturition (75.3%) followed by loin pain on the affected side (71%). 31 cases which formed a majority were diagnosed to have right sided emphysematous pyelonephritis (41.9%), 28 had left sided (38.35%) and 14 bilateral (19.17%) in our series. 90.41 % of the patient were diagnosed to have diabetes mellitus of which 34 patients (46.57 %) presented with high sugars. Urine cultures were positive in only 41% of the patients with the most common organism being E. coli (68%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (14%). 64.8% of the patients diagnosed were treated conservatively with IV antibiotics and 34.24% by endoscopic management. Conclusions: In this study we have shown that a medical line of management with appropriate endoscopic intervention is the present choice of management of emphysematous pyelonephritis irrespective of the CT grade of the disease. Level of evidence: Not applicable for this multicentre audit.