Fatal nephrobronchial fistula arising from xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis: a case report.

Introduction: Nephrobronchial fistula is an exceptionally rare complication of renal infections, including the uncommon xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. Existing literature is limited to a few case reports, with antibiotic therapy and nephrectomy being the preferred treatments. Case: We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with a history of recurrent xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in her right kidney, requiring drainage through lumbotomy. She presented with a chronic dry cough and weight loss, without other noticeable symptoms. Imaging suggested a pulmonary abscess and nephrobronchial fistula. Despite antibiotic treatment and surgical intervention, her condition progressed fatally. Conclusion: Nephrobronchial fistulas are extremely complications of renal infections, often presenting with nonspecific symptoms. This case highlights their significant impact on morbidity and mortality, especially in resource-limited settings, and underscoring the urgent need for prompt diagnosis and treatment.

A case of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis leading to nephrobronchial fistula and lung abscess: does it always manifest with respiratory symptoms?

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is a serious manifestation of chronic kidney inflammation that can expand to adjacent structures. Here we report a case of XGP extending beyond the diaphragm through a nephrobronchial fistula to form a lung abscess in a 70-year-old man. The patient presented to the emergency department with severe right flank colic pain, nausea, vomiting and nonspecific constitutional symptoms for the past 4 months. Although the patient did not complain of any respiratory symptoms, initial evaluations revealed severe right-sided hydroureteronephrosis with debris, as well as an area of infiltration in the right lung lower lobe (RLL). Given the patient's condition, a thorough work-up was expedited to investigate the potential association between the symptoms. Ultimately, a diagnosis of XGP with expansion to the RLL through the right hemidiaphragm was developed. A right radical nephrectomy, right lower lobectomy and right hemidiaphragm resection were carried out. XGP was confirmed on the basis of the pathological evaluation of the resected specimens.

"Uroptysis!" - A case report of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis with nephrobronchial fistulation.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is an uncommon complication of chronic urinary tract infection, classically secondary to a chronic obstructive uropathy, resulting in destruction of renal parenchyma and a non-functioning kidney (Jha and Aeddula, 2022 [1]). This is rarely associated with nephrobronchial fistulation, with few published case reports in the literature to date. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the rare case of a 42-year-old female who was admitted to an Irish tertiary urology centre with abdominal pain, elevated inflammatory markers and an obstructive uropathy on initial imaging, with a new diagnosis of XGP. Initial management was with targeted intravenous antimicrobial therapy, percutaneous nephrostomy and perinephric drain insertion. The subsequent discovery of a nephrobronchial fistula later complicated the case, warranting plan for interval nephrectomy and fistula repair following prolonged medical management. We discuss the initial presentation, workup and image-guided approach to management. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: XGP is an uncommon sequela of chronic renal suppurative infection, and is usually associated with long-standing ureteric obstruction secondary to a staghorn calculus. Nephrobronchial fistulation is a rare complication of XGP, highlighting the significance of this case discussion. CONCLUSION: XGP should be considered in cases of suspected chronic pyelonephritis and may rarely lead to nephrobronchial fistulation. In cases of known XGP and pleural empyema, nephrobronchial fistulation should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis.

Nephrobronchial fistula a case report and review of the literature.

Nephrobronchial fistula is an extremely rare complications of renal infections. We present a case of nephrobronchial fistula in a middle age immunocompetent woman who complained cough and weight loss, with underlying asymptomatic nephrolithiasis. She underwent a chest X-ray that showed left lower lobe infiltrate and abdominal ultrasound. Abdominal ultrasound showed a complicated pyonephrosis ; CT of chest-abdomen-pelvis with intravenous contrast was performed in order to stage and define the extension of the pathology. At CT, a suspected diagnosis of stage III xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis complicated with pyonephrosis and a nephrobronchial fistula was formulated. A nephrostomy tube was placed, and the patient was treated with antibiotics. Follow up CT, performed after 15 days, showed the healing of the fistulous connection between the perinephric abscess and bronchi; the patient underwent nephrectomy with no airway complication during intubation. Histopathological diagnosis confirmed the presence on complicated xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis.

Nephrobronchial fistula and lung abscess secondary to Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis.

There are multiple causes of lung abscess, but the differential rarely includes pyelonephritis as a primary cause leading to lung abscess resulting from the development of a nephrobronchial fistula. The patient had no urinary symptoms or abdominal pain and the etiology of lung abscess was only incidentally discovered after chest CT revealed extension of pleural fluid below the diaphragm.

Fístula nefrobronquial en paciente pediátrico: caso clínico / Nephrobronchial fistula in pediatric patient. Case report

La fístula nefrobronquial es una complicación infrecuente de las infecciones renales, que ocurre habitualmente en pacientes adultos con pielonefritis xantogranulomatosa. Comunicamos el caso de una paciente de 12 años con antecedentes de mielomeningocele operado e infección urinaria recurrente, quien consultó con historia de cuatro semanas de fiebre, tos y disnea. Ingresó en shock séptico y presentó inundación de la vía aérea por pus, que le ocasionó episodio de asistolia. Mediante tomografía computarizada de abdomen, se diagnosticó extensa colección perirrenal izquierda. Se efectuó un drenaje percutáneo, que dio salida a pus y aire. TAC de tórax y abdomen mostró fístula transdiafragmática entre la base pulmonar izquierda y colección intraabdominal. Se realizó nefrectomía total. La paciente mostró mejoría progresiva poscirugía y regresión total de la sintomatología. Este infrecuente caso clínico en niños ilustra la importancia del diagnóstico precoz de infección urinaria en pacientes con patologías asociadas y de presentar un elevado índice de sospecha ante una complicación potencialmente letal

Nephrobronchial fistula is a rare complication of kidney infections, usually occurring in adult patients with xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis and very occasionally in children. We reported a 12-year-old girl, with a history of myelomeningocele and recurrent urinary tract infection, who presented with a four-week fever, cough and dyspnea, developing septic shock and presenting flood of airway by pus which caused cardiac arrest. A diagnosis of left perirenal extensive collection was established by abdominal computed tomography (CT). The patient first had antibiotic therapy and percutaneous drainage was performed draining pus and air. Thoracic and abdominal CT scan was performed corroborating transdiaphragmatic fistula. Total nephrectomy was performed. The patient showed gradual improvement after surgery and total regression of symptoms. Pathologic examination concluded chronic pyelonephritis. This case report illustrates a rare complication in children, the importance of early diagnosis of urinary tract infection in patients with comorbidities and of exhibiting a high index of suspicion to a potentially lethal complication.

Nephrobronchial fistula. A case report and review of the literature.

Nephrobronchial fistulas are a rare complication of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. We report the diagnosis of such a case together with its investigation, management and a review of current literature.