The Role of Reperfusion-Induced Injury in the Pathogenesis of the Crush Syndrome

RHABDOMYOLYSIS is a common syndrome in which injury to skeletal muscle results in the leakage of the contents of myocytes into the plasma. It can be induced by numerous factors, including a crush injury to a limb, overuse of skeletal muscle, heat, alcoholism, viral infections, metabolic disorders, myopathies, drugs, toxins, and hypokalemia. Massive rhabdomyolysis can produce life-threatening myoglobinuric renal failure, hyperkalemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute cardiomyopathy, and various other complications. 1 2 3 Traumatic rhabdomyolysis, or the crush syndrome, is the consequence of prolonged continuous pressure on the limbs. It reflects the disintegration of muscle tissue and the influx of myoglobin, potassium, and . . .