J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2004 Apr;28(2):140-145.

The Diagnosis of Upper Urinary Tract Infection Using Abdominal Computerized Tomography in Spinal Cord Injured Patients

• Shin JC
• Park CI
• Rha DW
• Chon J
• Kim JE
• Jeon SC
• Jung TH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To reveal the usefulness of abdominal computerized tomography (CT) for the detection of complicated and uncomplicated upper urinary tract infection (UTI)s in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). METHOD: Twenty-two patients with SCI were included in this study. They had UTIs with persistent high fever despite conservative treatments. In all patients, abdominal CT was performed. RESULTS: Acute pyelonephritis (APN) with or without complications was detected in 13 patients (59.1%). Four patients were accompanied with complications, 1 perirenal abscess, 1 renal and perirenal abscess with staghorn stone, 1 urosepsis with renal abscess and 1 urosepsis. Simple nephrectomy was performed in a patient with perirenal and renal abscesses with a staghorn stone. Percutaneous abscess drainage was performed in one patient with perirenal abscess. They all recovered without further complications. CONCLUSION: Abdominal CT should be considered to detect uncomplicated and complicated upper UTIs in SCI patients who present persistent UTI symptoms despite conservative treatments.

Keyword

Abdominal computerized-tomography; Acute pyelonephritis; Spinal cord injury; Urinary tract infection

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Diagnosis*
Drainage
Fever
Humans
Nephrectomy
Pyelonephritis
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal Cord*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Urinary Tract Infections*
Urinary Tract*