Acute kidney failure in hypothermia
Kopsa, H.; Zazgornik, J.; Schmidt, P.; Pall, H.; Pok, S.J.; Bayer, P.M.; Balcke, P.; Pils, P.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 107(27): 942-947
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 897629 Document Number: 114845
Two cases with acute renal failure after prolonged hypothermia are presented. Both patients were found in come, became rapidly uremic and required hemodilaysis treatment. Although the laboratory findings were typical of severe muscle damage, e.g. elevated levels of serum creatinine phosphokinase, serum lactic dehydrogenase and serum aldolase activities, visible "crush-injuries" were not found. Acute renal failure was characterized by extreme catabolism and severe metabolic acidosis. After 4 and 10 hemodialyses respectively, the patients became polyuric and finally were discharges with normal renal and muscle function. Hypotension with diminished renal perfusion and nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis due to prolonged hypothermia are regarded as the dominant pathogenetic factors in the acute renal failure.