Case report

Acute bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis successfully managed by medical therapy alone: A case report and review of the literature

Guillermo Flores , Haiko Nellen , Francisco Magaña and Juan Calleja

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medicine, Hospital de Especialidades Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico

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BMC Nephrology 2002, 3:4doi:10.1186/1471-2369-3-4

Published:	3 June 2002

Abstract

Background

Bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis is a life threatening condition usually occurring in diabetics. Management of this condition has traditionally been aggressive and surgery is considered mandatory. However, this is itself a hazardous intervention in a septic, unstable patient with circulatory or liver failure. When bilateral disease is present, the need for long-term dialysis is obviously unavoidable.

Case presentation

We herein report one of the few cases of bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis successfully managed by non-surgical treatment.