Rhabdomyolysis following electrical injury without acute kidney injury

Abstract

Objective: Rhabdomyolysis is an important etiology for developing acute kidney injury (AKI). Among the many varying reasons for rhabdomyolysis, electrical injury seems to be a lesser-known factor. The clinical presentation of rhabdomyolysis is usually in the form of severe and widespread pain, tenderness, weakness in the muscles and dark urine. It is characterized by the disruption of cell integrity in myocytes as a result of widespread damage to skeletal muscles and the passage of intracellular components into the circulation. Case Presentation: Here we presented a case report of a young man who had rhabdomyolysis induced by electrical injury which is relatively less common among the other etiological factors with preserved renal functions. He had electrical injury related wounds on extremities. Urgent intravenous fluid therapy was initiated as soon as his admission to the emergency department (ED), without delay. Conclusion: AKI is very common due to the nephrotoxic effect of myoglobinuria and the prerenal status. It is rare that AKI does not develop in patients with a severe increase in creatinine kinase. It is a very important point to start effective fluid therapy in a short time.