Emphysematous Pyelonephritis Treated with Vacuum Sealing Drainage

Emphysematous pyelonephritis （EPN） is a rare infectious disease, of which risk factors are poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, and urinary tract obstruction. In comparison with simple pyelonephritis, EPN is an acute severe necrotizing and gas-forming infection of the renal parenchyma with a mortality rate of up to 25%. Among the reported cases of EPN, there has only been one report of the disease where the ＂invisible kidney＂ was detected in the lung windows on noneontrast abdominal computed tomography （CT）. This rare case was treated with vacuum sealing drainage （VSD, Weigao Holding, China） and recovered quickly.