American Journal of Urology and Sexology (Volume 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906. Excerpt: ... PYELITIS. By WlNFIELD AYRES, M.D. Adjunct-Professor of Genito-Urinary Surgery at the New York Post-Graduate Medical School. MODIFICATION of the ureter-cystoscope, making catheterization of ureters easier, has led to a more thorough study of diseases of the renal pelves, and pyelitis is now considered a not uncommon condition. Rayer,1 the first man to recognize pyelitis as a particular affection, stated that the inflammation might extend to the parenchyma of the kidney. Since his time pyelitis has been more or less thoroughly described, yet in searching through literature one is surprised that many text-books ignore the disease, while others mention it only cursorily. Of the authors who discourse on pyelitis, a majority describe both catarrhal and purulent varieties, while some speak of purulent only. Michaelis2 declares purulent pyelitis to be rather rare, but says that catarrhal pyelitis is quite common; that it is considered rare because it occurs as a complication of surgical troubles. The physician who will thoroughly investigate his cases of obscure urinary disturbance, will be startled at the frequent occurrence of pyelitis. Catarrhal pyelitis is far more common than the purulent. Pyelitis may be caused by an extension of inflammation from the neck of the bladder. Catarrh of the vesical trigone, or purulent cystisis, may extend up the ureters and so to the renal pelves. Especially is this so if there be an obstruction to the flow of urine from the bladder. Pyelitis may be occasioned by extension of inflammation from the kidney. The irritating action of oxalate of calcium and uric acid, if long continued, produces pyelitis as well as nephritis. It is asserted that pyelitis may be caused by infectious fevers, but it is problematical whether inflammati...