title: Rhabdomyolysis following laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: a case to heighten awareness.
abstract: Rhabdomyolysis, myoglobinuria and acute renal failure are rare complication of surgery. Long operative time, increased body mass, lateral decubitus positioning and extracellular volume depletion may predispose to this condition. The authors describe the case of a 70-year-old man with renal cell carcinoma who underwent a laparoscopic right radical nephrectomy in the lateral decubitus position. His postoperative course was complicated by acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis. Heightened awareness, early recognition and treatment of this condition are important, particularly as laparoscopic nephrectomy is becoming a common procedure for living donor transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Christchurch Public Hospital, Private Bag, Christchurch, New Zealand. john.irvine@clear.net.nz
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.forename: Tev
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aho
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Searle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000209:etiology*