Pre-hospital treatment of traumatic rhabdomyolysis
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Pre-hospital treatment of traumatic rhabdomyolysis

Mathew Desjardins Paramedic, East Midlands Ambulance Service, Goodwood Ambulance Station, Leicester
Barnaby Strange Paramedic, East Midlands Ambulance Service, Goodwood Ambulance Station, Leicester

Mathew Desjardins and Barnaby Strange discuss the aetiology and management of traumatic pathological breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue

Described as the pathological breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue in response to major injury, traumatic rhabdomyolysis iwas first recorded, during the second world war, a far greater understanding of its pathology has informed pre-hospital assessment and management of the condition. This article describes the aetiology of the condition and explores associated complications, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, hyperkalaemia, acute renal failure and compartment syndrome resulting from prolonged limb entrapment. The article also reviews the literature about management of the condition for hospital and out-of-hospital settings.

Emergency Nurse. 21, 8, 28-33. doi: 10.7748/en2013.12.21.8.28.e1221

Correspondence

mathew.desjardins@hotmail.co.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

Author guidelines

en.rcnpublishing.com

Received: 26 July 2013

Accepted: 15 October 2013

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