Emphysematous pyelonephritis: a 5-year experience with 13 patients.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a life-threatening necrotizing renal infection characterized by the production of gas. Of 8,105 admissions to our diabetes service during the last 5 years we identified 13 cases. The patients were managed aggressively with fluids and antibiotics, followed by immediate nephrectomy. The mortality rate is 40 to 50 per cent, primarily owing to sudden septic complications.