Rhabdomyolysis

Question 1

What is rhabdomyolysis?

Answer 1

The breakdown of skeletal muscle which causes the release of muscle cell contents into the blood stream. This inturn causes kidney damage.
It can be cause by muscle injury or oxygen supply failure.

Question 2

What are complications of rhabdo?

Answer 2

• Acute kidney injury (due to myoglobin being filtered by kidneys)
• Elecrolyte abnormalities (hyperkalemia)
• Arrhythmias
• Compartment syndrome (increase in pressure inside a muscle = restricts blood flow + causes pain)
• End-stage renal disease
• Infection

Question 3

What are some causes of rhabdo?

Answer 3

• Trauma/Long lies
• Excessive exercise
• Muscle ischemia
• Medication (-STATINS)
• Infection/Sepsis
• Seizures, neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• Toxins/substance abuse

Question 4

What are s/s of rhabdo?

Answer 4

• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Dark/brown urine
• Malaise
• N/V
• Muscle cramps
• Palpitations
• Decreased urine output
• Arrhythmias