Acute Rhabdomyolysis

Author: Andrew Parfitt / Editor: Steve Fordham / Reviewer: Michael Perry, Josh Davison / Code: A4, A6, O7, R2 / Published: 11/02/2022

Description:

This session looks at the causes, identification and treatment of rhabdomyolysis in the emergency department.

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe the condition of rhabdomyolysis and its classic presentations and variations
• List the differential diagnosis, i.e. red flag histories that may masquerade as rhabdomyolysis
• Distinguish between cases which do and do not require hospitalization
• Identify the key steps in the immediate and continuing management of these patients
• Identify the appropriate investigations and state their limitations

References:

1. Huerta-Alardn AL, Varon J, Marik PE. Bench-to-bedside review: Rhabdomyolysis — an overview for clinicians. Crit Care. 2005 Apr;9(2):158-69.
2. Bagley WH, Yang H, Shah KH. Rhabdomyolysis. Intern Emerg Med. 2007 Oct;2(3):210-8.
3. Malinoski DJ, Slater MS, Mullins RJ. Crush injury and rhabdomyolysis. Crit Care Clin. 2004 Jan;20(1):171-92.
4. Sauret JM, Marinides G, Wang GK. Rhabdomyolysis. Am Fam Physician. 2002 Mar 1;65(5):907-12.
5. Lane R, Phillips M. Rhabdomyolysis. BMJ. 2003 Jul 19;327(7407):115-6. doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7407.115. Erratum in: BMJ. 2003 Aug 30;327(7413):500.
6. Melli G, Chaudhry V, Cornblath DR. Rhabdomyolysis: an evaluation of 475 hospitalized patients. Medicine (Baltimore). 2005 Nov;84(6):377-385.