Objective:To summarize the experience of vacuum sealing drainage(VSD) in treating emphysematous pyelonephritis.Methods:The clinical data of 5 patients with emphysematous pyelonephritis treated with VSD from January 2013 to October 2022 in Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. There were 1 male and 4 female patients.The average age was (61.4±6.6) years old. Clinical manifestations were chills and fever in 5 cases, lumbago in 5 cases. There were 3 cases of nausea and vomiting. Four cases were complicated with electrolyte disturbance. 4 cases suffered abnormal renal function. The levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and interleukin-6 were higher than normal in 5 cases. Leukocytes and neutrophils was beyond normal in 3 cases, and lower than normal in 1 case. Five cases were complicated with diabetes, and 2 cases were complicated with ureteral calculus and obstruction. According to the CT results of emphysematous pyelonephritis reported in the literature, it can be divided into Ⅰ-Ⅳ types. Type Ⅰwas confined to the renal collecting system. Type Ⅱ was confined to the renal parenchyma. Type Ⅲ was confined to the renal parenchyma, and typeⅣ was bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis or isolated renal emphysematous pyelonephritis. Of the 5 cases, 3 were type Ⅲ and 1 was type Ⅳ (bilateral). One case of type Ⅱ progressed to type Ⅲ. Under the controlling of blood glucose and applying broad-spectrum antibiotics, all 5 cases underwent ureteral stenting. Three patients underwent percutaneous renal puncture drainage, and VSD was performed after treatment failed. Among the two cases, one patient was type Ⅳ.And the other's CT showed that the kidney was heavy with gas and less normal renal parenchyma, and VSD was performed directly. The renal sac was opened surgically and the wound was sealed with a semi-permeable membrane. Foam sponge dressing was placed around the kidney for negative pressure irrigation for full decompression and drainage.Results:The leukocytes and neutrophils of 5 patients returned to normal after operation. The inflammatory indicators such as C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and interleukin-6 showed a downward trend to varying degrees compared with those before operation. The vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate and temperature of the patients gradually became normal and stable. The VSD was replaced once every 1 to 3 days and was replaced 3 to 5 times. After 2 to 8 weeks of treatment, the blood leukocytes and kidney function of the patient returned to normal. All patients were followed up for 3 to 24 months with good prognosis and no recurrence of infection. No renal atrophy was observed during intermittent CT examination.Conclusions:When medical treatment combined with ureteral stent placement and percutaneous renal puncture drainage are not effective, or when stones are complicated with obstruction and puncture drainage is not effective, the use of VSD in the treatment of emphysematous pyelonephritis can reduce the difficulty of surgery and preserve the kidney. However, the number of cases in this study is small, and the conclusion needs to be further verified by increasing the sample size.