Rhabdomyolysis

Etiology / Pathophysiology

• Muscle breakdown from crush injury, prolonged immobility, heat injury, seizures, drugs, or extreme exertion.
• Myoglobin from damaged muscle can clog and injure kidneys.

Medications

No specific medication class was seeded for this card.

Nursing actions

• Monitor urine color/output, CK, creatinine, potassium, and pain/swelling.
• Give aggressive fluids as ordered to protect kidneys.
• Assess for compartment syndrome when trauma is involved.

Complications

• AKI
• Hyperkalemia
• Compartment syndrome
• DIC

NCLEX cues

• Tea-colored urine after crush or prolonged down time.
• K and kidneys are priority.

Memory hooks

• Rhabdo starts in muscle; kidneys take the hit.

Labs / Diagnostics

• Trend assessment findings and ordered diagnostics; verify exact values with school source material.

Review notes

• Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.