Myoglobinuric acute renal failure following electrical injury.
Eight patients with acute renal failure (ARF) following electrical injury were studied. The mean area of cutaneous burns was 23 +/- 16% (range 6-60%) and extensive tissue necrosis with gangrene was uniformly present. Oliguria developed 9.3 +/- 7 h (range 3-24 h) after the injury in 7 patients (88%). Urinalysis revealed presence of myoglobin in 75% of the patients. The mean duration of oliguria among those who recovered was 16 +/- 6 days (range 11-23 days) and the mean interval between the onset of oliguria and recovery of renal function was 25 +/- 6 days (range 21-34 days). Four patients died. The cause of death was Klebsiella septicemia in 1, hyperkalemia associated with extensive myonecrosis in 2 patients, and uncertain in 1 patient. Our observations showed that myoglobinuric acute renal failure associated with electrical injury carries a high mortality. Early detection and aggressive management of hyperkalemia and sepsis are necessary to reduce mortality among these patients.
Department of Nephrology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh, India.
K L
KL
Gupta
R
R
Kumar
M S
MS
Sekhar
V
V
Sakhuja
K S
KS
Chugh
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009212:Myoglobinuria / Q000209:etiology*