Sir,
A 75-year-old lady presented with pain in left flank and fever. There was tenderness in left renal angle. On laboratory investigation, patient was found to be a diabetic and in renal failure. A plain film of abdomen showed unusual presence of air in the left renal fossa. Ultrasonography (USG) revealed non-visualisation of left kidney in left renal fossa with strong reflective echoes ('gassed out kidney'), which was consistent with emphysematous pyelonephritis. Plain computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed the presence of air collections in the left renal and perirenal space with fluid collections. The opposite kidney was unremarkable. Blood culture growed E. coli. Because of high risk for anaesthesia the decision of immediate nephrectomy was deferred. It was decided to manage the patient conservatively with immediate nephrostomy. A percutaneous nephrostomy was performed with Mallecot catheter under ultrasound guidance and the patient was kept on antibiotics and insulin. The patient showed immediate improvement in clinical status within 24 hours. Follow up CT scan demonstrated resolution of perinephric collection.
