title: Emphysematous pyelonephritis: Time for a management plan with an evidence-based approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a life-threatening necrotising kidney infection, but there is no consensus on the best management.
  
  
  METHODS
  We systematically reviewed previous articles published from 1980 to 2013 that included studies reporting on EPN, and applying the Cochrane guidelines, we conducted a meta-analysis of the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 32 studies were included, with results for 628 patients (mean age 56.6 years, range 33.8-79.9). There were 462 women, outnumbering men by 3:1. Diabetes was present in 85% of the cases. Fevers and rigor (74.7%), pyuria (78.2%) and pain (70.4%) were the most common symptoms. Shock was associated with 54.4% of deaths while obstructive uropathy was associated with 15.1% of deaths. Computed tomography was diagnostic in all the cases. Percutaneous drainage (PCD) and medical management (MM) alone were associated with a significantly lower mortality rate than was emergency nephrectomy (EN), with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for PCD vs. EN of 3.13 (1.89-5.16; P < 0.001), for EN vs. MM of 2.84 (1.62-4.99; P = 0.001), and of 0.91 (0.53-1.56; P = 0.73, i.e., no difference) for PCD vs. MM. Open drainage also had a significantly lower mortality rate than EN, with a ratio of 0.12 (0.02-0.91; P < 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall mortality rate was ≈18%; shock was associated with a high mortality rate and therefore should be managed aggressively. PCD and MM were associated with significantly higher survival rates than EN, and therefore EN should only be considered if the patient does not improve despite other treatments.
authors.affiliation: Islamic University of Gaza, College of Medicine, Gaza, Palestine.
authors.forename: Omar M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Aboumarzouk
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Owen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narahari
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coulthard
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kynaston
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chlosta
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital of Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Somani
keywords: DM, diabetes mellitus; EN, nephrectomy; EPN, emphysematous pyelonephritis; Emergency nephrectomy; Emphysematous pyelonephritis; Infection; MM, medical management; OD, open drainage; OR, odds ratio; PCD, percutaneous drainage; Percutaneous drainage; Pyelonephritis