Rhabdomyolysis may occur in the perioperative period. It often occurs unexpectedly and it requires prompt diagnosis to avoid complications..
Risk factors for rhabdomyolysis:
(1) prolonged surgery (several hours)
(2) certain positions (lithotomy, lateral decubitis)
(3) hard operating table surface
(4) obesity
(5) other chronic comorbid conditions
The rhabdomyolysis may be associated with a compartment syndrome.
A delay in diagnosis can result in myoglobinuria-related acute renal failure. Early and prompt diuresis and alkalinization of the urine can reduce this risk.
The diagnosis requires exclusion of other diagnoses (myopathy, drug reaction, hemolytic transfusion reaction).
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