Abstract
Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare form of pyelonephritis that occurs more commonly in diabetics than in nondiabetics and requires urgent surgical intervention with percutaneous drainage or nephrectomy. This severe infection occurs predominately in diabetics and individuals with urinary obstruction due to strictures, calculi, or neoplasm. Patients present similarly to typical pyelonephritis with fever and flank or abdominal pain. CT scan is the preferred diagnostic imaging modality due to its capacity to detect gas and urinary obstruction. CT may also provide prognostic information independently or in conjunction with clinical signs of severe illness. Treatment for emphysematous pyelonephritis consists of prompt antibiotics, correction of obstruction if present, and percutaneous drainage. In some severe cases of extensive infection, nephrectomy is necessary.
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Wong, B., Doggett, J.S. (2014). Emphysematous Pyelonephritis. In: Loriaux, L. (eds) Endocrine Emergencies. Contemporary Endocrinology, vol 74. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-697-9_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-697-9_8
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