About this episode
Contributor: Ricky Dhaliwal, MD Educational Pearls: Rhabdomyolysis occurs when high levels of myoglobin are released from dying muscle tissue into the blood Severe levels of myoglobin cause renal injury Causes include elevated temperature, excessive exercise, toxins, infection, muscle ischemia, crush injury, and prolonged immobilization Can also be caused by medications, like antipsychotics, statins, SSRIs, colchicine, lithium Workup typically includes creatinine kinase, potassium, creatinine levels and serial EKGs Firstline treatment is with IV fluids with a goal urine output of 300 ml/hr Sodium bicarbonate and mannitol have had some use in treatment but weak evidence References Long B, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M. An evidence-based narrative review of the emergency department evaluation and management of rhabdomyolysis. Am J Emerg Med. 2019 Mar;37(3):518-523. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2018.12.061. Epub 2019 Jan 2. PMID: 30630682. Summarized by John Spartz, MS3 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD The Emergency Medical Minute is excited to announce that we are now offering AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ via online course modules. To access these and for more information, visit our website at www.emergencymedicalminute.com/cme-courses/ and create an account.